Columbia Co. EMS Levy Gets Strong Yes Vote

Funds from permanent levy will help with maintenance of equipment and staffing

 

August 16, 2018



DAYTON—Preliminary results from the Aug. 7 election showed that the Columbia EMS Levy is passing with just over 71% yes votes. A 60% yes vote is required for passage.

Fire District 3 Chief Jeromy Phinney said that although there are still votes out there to count, it is safe to say it is passing.

“I’m most happy to have that kind of support from the community. It looked like the precincts in all areas of the county were supportive,” he said. “I think that’s huge. It will help us with our staffing and equipment needs and generate the funds to provide services.”

Phinney said that Fire Districts 1, 2, and 3 and the Town of Starbuck should receive their first funding from the first half taxes in 2019.

“We’re debating on the first order of business. How much money we get and when will dictate that,” he said.

Phinney said he was pleased and somewhat surprised the levy passed the first time around. “We thought this would be a learning experience. I’m pretty happy the public supported us that overwhelmingly,” he said.

Phinney also said that the fire districts committed to running the levy in March, and with approval from the county commissioners, began their outreach in earnest the same month. Many people were involved in promoting the levy, he added.

Kari Dingman, President of the Columbia County Volunteer Fire Fighters Association said, “It was a group effort for sure, and we should all be proud that we were able to get it passed on the first try.”

Dingman took the lead in creating the Friends of Columbia County EMS.

“The Friends Group were the ones responsible for the banners, yard, signs, billboards, newspaper advertising, ad at the Liberty Theater, direct mailer to every mailbox and going door-to-door,” she said.

Dingman said she was the person behind the Friends of Columbia County Facebook page and the email address, and was fielding all of the questions with Chief Phinney to make sure the information was correct and accurate.

She said the actual hours she logged don’t reflect all the hours she spent thinking about it while driving, gardening, and doing other things. “Not to mention the dreams I had about the Levy,” she added.

The purpose of the levy is to address maintenance and stabilization of the emergency medical system, to establish funds for staffing and training in order to meet the growing demands for EMS coverage, and to help with the costs of replacing aging equipment.

This permanent Levy will affect all property taxpayers in Columbia County. It will add 50 cents per 1,000 of assessed value to county property taxes in 2019.

 

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