HomeMy WebLinkAboutord2022-055Whatcom County COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360) 778-5010
Agenda Bill Master Report
File Number: AB2022-382
File ID: AB2022-382 Version: 1 Status: Substitute Adopted
File Created: 06/28/2022 Entered by:
Department: File Type: Ordinance
Assigned to: Council Committee of the Whole Final Action: 07/26/2022
Agenda Date: 07/26/2022 Enactment #: ORD 2022-055
Primary Contact Email: mhilley@co.whatcom.wa.us
TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM:
Ordinance providing for submission to the qualified voters of Whatcom County a proposition renewing
the levy of a regular property tax at a rate of $.295 or less per $1000 assessed valuation to continue to
provide emergency medical services
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE:
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE
Date: Acting Body:
Action:
Sent To:
07/12/2022 Council INTRODUCED Council Committee of the Whole
Aye: 4 Buchanan, Donovan, Frazey, and Galloway
Nay: 3 Byrd, Elenbaas, and Kershner
Absent: 0
07/26/2022 Council Committee of the Whole RECOMMENDED FOR
ADOPTION WITH
PROPOSED
AMENDMENT(S)
Aye: 5 Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Frazey, and Galloway
Nay: 1 Elenbaas
Absent: 0
Abstain: 1 Kershner
07/26/2022 Council SUBSTITUTE ADOPTED
Whatcom County Page 1 Printed on 712712022
Agenda Bill Master Report Continued (AB2022-382)
Aye: 5 Buchanan, Donovan, Frazey, Galloway, and Kershner
Nay: 1 Elenbaas
Absent: 1 Byrd
Attachments: Memo (from June 21 packet), Ordinance, Substitute Levy Plan (Frazey) for July 12, EMS - BLS
Budget, EMS Ordinance for Introduction July 12, 2022, Substitute Ordinance as Amended in
COTW 7.26.22, Lagerway EMS Levy
Whatcom County Page 2 Printed on 712712022
I PROPOSED BY:
2 INTRODUCTION DATE: JULY 12, 2022
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5 ORDINANCE NO.2022-055
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8 PROVIDING FOR SUBMISSION TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF WHATCOM COUNTY
9 A PROPOSITION RENEWIING THE LEVY OF A REGULAR PROPERTY TAX EACH YEAR
10 FOR SIX YEARS, COLLECTION BEGINNING IN 2023, AT A RATE OF $.295 OR LESS
11 PER $1000 OF ASSESSED VALUATION TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY
12 MEDICAL SERVICES, IN THE GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD NOVEMBER 3, 2022
13
14 WHEREAS, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is a complex, coordinated response
15 and Emergency Medical Care system, that requires people and agencies to perform an
16 essential role as part of a coordinated, tiered, and seamless system of integrated
17 emergency medical care; and
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19 WHEREAS, fire districts, departments and agencies provide first responder services
20 and Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulance service and the Bellingham Fire Department and
21 Whatcom Fire District #7 provide Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulance service; and
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23 WHEREAS, Whatcom County's EMS system has evolved over 48 years, and has
24 transitioned into a tiered level of services supported by the countywide EMS Levy; and
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26 WHEREAS, the countywide Emergency Medical System serves all of Whatcom
27 County including Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden, Blaine, Everson, Nooksack, and Sumas; and
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29 WHEREAS, the EMS system responds to a broad range of people who will benefit
30 from responders reflecting the diverse communities of Whatcom County; and
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32 WHEREAS, Emergency Medical Services are essential and necessary for the
33 protection and health and life of Whatcom County residents, and stable funding through the
34 countywide Levy is a practical solution to continue providing EMS services at the current
35 level as described in the 2023 to 2028 EMS Levy Strategic Plan in order to sustain the
36 system into the future and to meet increased demands for service.
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38 WHEREAS, the EMS system also includes regional support programs and services
39 that provide administration, medical oversight and direction, citizen and emergency
40 personnel training, planning, public education, and other support programs and services;
41 and
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43 WHEREAS, investing in programs and services to improve diversity, equity, and
44 inclusion in the workplace, including training and dedicated personnel to improve and track
45 progress on recruitment and retention, hiring practices, and a workplace culture of inclusion
46 may enhance EMS service delivery and better assist those in need; and
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48 WHEREAS, The EMS Levy Planning Committee confirmed by the Emergency Medical
49 Services Oversight Board (EOB) recommended a funding strategy and levy rate that will
50 support and sustain the countywide EMS system; and
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1 WHEREAS, the state legislature, through RCW 84.52.069, has recognized the needs
2 and concerns described above, and has provided the mechanism for achieving a stable
3 funding source for the provision of such Emergency Medical Services through a voter
4 approved levy, and
5
6 WHEREAS, supporting the EMS Levy, as a primary funding mechanism for
7 countywide EMS, is key to advancing Whatcom County's diversity, equity, and inclusion
8 priorities; and
9
10 WHEREAS, The EMS Levy Planning Committee and EMS Oversight Board
11 recommends the continuation/renewal of the countywide EMS Levy to provide a stable
12 funding source that will sustain the system for the next 6 years; and
13
14 WHEREAS, in order to assure the continued provision of services, it is both
15 necessary and appropriate to renew the regular property tax levy of $.295 or less per $1000
16 of assessed valuation as provided for in this ordinance;
17
18 WHEREAS, if the voters approve the proposed renewal of the EMS levy, for the tax
19 year 2023, the property tax levy rate would be set at $0.295 per $1,000 of assessed
20 valuation; and
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22 WHEREAS, beginning in the 2024 tax year and for the remaining tax years of the
23 levy, the County Council would have the opportunity to review and potentially reduce the
24 EMS property tax levy in its annual EMS property tax levy ordinance, if the Council
25 determines that EMS needs can be fully met with a lower levy;
26
27 NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF WHATCOM COUNTY DOES ORDAIN AS
28 FOLLOWS:
29
30 Section 1. Approval of cities over 50,000 population. Pursuant to RCW 84.52.069,
31 approval to place this county -wide levy proposal on the ballot has been obtained from the
32 legislative body of the City of Bellingham through Resolutions 2022-15 . The City of
33 Bellingham is presently the only city in Whatcom County having a population over 50,000.
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35 Section 2. Deposit of levy proceeds and eligible expenditures. All levy proceeds shall
36 be deposited into the County Emergency Medical Services Fund. If approved by the
37 qualified electors of the County, all levy proceeds authorized in the ordinance shall be used
38 only for the provision of emergency medical services, including related personnel costs,
39 training for such personnel and related equipment, supplies, vehicles, and structures needed
40 for the provision of emergency medical services, and as may otherwise be provided under
41 RCW 84.52.043. Where permissible by law, personnel costs and training should also include
42 essential diversity, equity and inclusion components of recruitment, hiring, retention, and
43 training of personnel.
44
45 Section 3. Type of Levy. Pursuant to the authorization in RCW 84.52.069, this levy is a
46 regular property tax levy on all taxable property located in Whatcom County and is in
47 addition to the statutory tax rate limit of RCW 84.52.043.
48
49 Section 4. Levy Rate. The proposed levy rate submitted to the voters shall be $.295 or
50 less per $1000 of assessed valuation each year, for six consecutive years, beginning in
51 2023. The collections of the taxes will begin in 2023. Taxes will be based on the previous
52 year's assessment.
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1 Section 5. Ratification by the Electorate. The proposal for this levy shall be submitted to
2 and approved by the voters in accordance with RCW 84.52.069.
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Section 6. Call for Election. A ballot measure for a proposition authorizing the levy
described herein shall be submitted to the qualified voters of Whatcom County at the
general election to be held on November 8, 2022. The Whatcom County Auditor is hereby
authorized, directed, and empowered to cause notices of this ordinance and such election in
accordance with the state constitution and general law and to submit to the registered
voters of the County, at the special county election, the proposition hereinafter set forth.
Furthermore, the County Executive is hereby authorized and requested to initiate the
appropriate action necessary to ensure a proposition in substantially the following form shall
be submitted to the voters of Whatcom County:
Whatcom County, Washington
Proposition : Regular Property Tax
Levy for Emergency Medical Services
The Whatcom County Council passed Ordinance 2022- 055 concerning the
renewed funding for the countywide Emergency Medical Services system. Will Whatcom
County be authorized to continue to impose a regular property tax levy of $0.295 or less
per thousand dollars of assessed valuation for each of the six consecutive years, with
collection beginning in 2023, for the continued provision of emergency medical services?
Yes
No
Section 7. Authorization for Interlocal Agreements. The County Executive is hereby
authorized and requested to negotiate interlocal agreements: 1) with the City of Bellingham
and Fire District #7 for EMS services consistent with the recommendations of the EMS Levy
Planning Committee and the EMS Oversight Board; 2) and Whatcom County Fire Districts
where levy collections provide fire agencies with limited BLS funding consistent with RCW
84.52.069 relating to the provision of emergency medical services over the length of time
the levy in imposed.
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Section 8. Severability. If any provision of this ordinance or its application to any person
or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the ordinance or the application of the
provision to o%r persons or circumstances is not affected.
AGDf�:, 4 I i �` h day of July 2022.
,g
WHATCOM,,COUNTY COUNCIL
l WHATCO,M COU TY, WASHINGTON
D a vi Irk of 'the Council Todd onovan, Council Chair
WHATCOM COUNTY EXECUTIVE
APPROVED AS TO FORM: WHATCOM COUNTY, W HINGTON
/s/ Karen Frakes (approved via phone 7.25.22) / A
Karen Frakes
Civil Deputy Prosecutor
Satpal Sidhu,
County Executive
(11,4,) Approved ( ) Denied
Date Signed: :5 011