Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue wants residents to know that it’s not asking for a tax increase when ballots go out later this month on Proposition No. 1, also known as the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Property Levy.

“It’s not a new tax, but a continuation of the current levy,” CKFR Chief Ken Burdette said.

The current property tax levy of 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed value (or $92.50 for a $185,000 home) was approved in 1998 in a 90 percent landslide victory. The fire district hopes that voters will go for that same rate for another six years starting in 2005.

Ballots for the mail-only election are expected to be out by April 28. They are due back at the county Auditor’s office by 8 p.m. or postmarked on May 18.

“Generally in the past the opposition to EMS levies have been slim,” CKFR commissioner John Wilkins Sr. said. “It’s a good service for the dollar and people appreciate that the service is available.”

Levy supporter Dave Fergus, who works with a number of fire departments throughout the state said, “CK has got as good, if not better, EMS service than anyone I’ve worked with. It’s top-notch. And to me this is a no-brainer because they provide a great value right now and will continue to do so.”

The EMS levy comprises 21 percent, or $1.98 million, of CKFR’s $9.5 million annual budget. Those funds are used to bolster staffing, provide annual medical training, maintain and operate ambulances 24-hours-a-day at four stations, purchase medical supplies and equipment such as automated external defibrillators on every ambulance, and public CPR classes.

“Some of those supplies are expensive,” Burdette said. “The defibrillators are $27,000 each, but that gives us a chance to improve the quality of life and save lives of heart attack victims.”

If the levy fails, Burdette said the district would use up all of its available funds before changing service or personnel levels.

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