QUILCENE — An emergency medical services levy on Tuesday’s ballot would allow the Quilcene Fire Department to provide continuous fire protection, advocates say.
Chief Larry Karp said the six-year levy would help stabilize the force, which is moving from an all-volunteer service to one with some paid firefighters, as well as accommodate the needs of an aging population.
“Approximately three-quarters of Quilcene residents are aged 65 and over, and emergency medical response needs are substantial and growing each year,” Karp said.
“When community members call for help, we have not been able to get the level of response they need from volunteers, many of whom have jobs and obligations outside of Quilcene, and just can’t be available as quickly and frequently as needed.”
Proposed tax
The proposed tax would assess 50 cents for each $1,000 of property valuation, or $100 on a property valued at $200,000.
Karp said Quilcene is the only fire district in Jefferson County that does not currently have an emergency medical services levy.
“In the past, there was a huge number of firefighters or [emergency medical technicians] who came running when there was a call for help,” Karp said.
“That’s not the response we get today. Our community is aging, and those who do volunteer have so many other family obligations and activities.”
The department was awarded a $396,000 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant last year, which allowed full funding of three full-time firefighter positions for two years.
This isn’t an ideal situation, Karp said, because at the end of the grant period, the department must either find these salaries from another source or let the firefighters go.
Keep paid positions
The proposed levy would bring in about $165,000 annually and would be enough for the district to keep its career personnel, Karp said.
Transitioning from volunteer to career firefighters would raise the quality of the department, Karp said.
“Ultimately, it will provide our community with faster response times from highly trained professionals,” he said.
In volunteer recruitment, age isn’t as much of an issue as physical fitness, Karp said. Of the 19 volunteers in Quilcene, 12 are older than 50; of those, three are in their 70s.
“The only person I could get to cover the Coyle Peninsula is in his 70s,” Karp said. “It’s much better to have someone in their 70s than no one at all.”
As of Thursday afternoon, the Jefferson County auditor had received 647 ballots out of 1,431 mailed, reflecting a voter turnout of 45.21 percent.
Ballots must be postmarked no later than Tuesday.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
