"Medic One will probably need to ask King County voters to approve a continued property tax levy to fund operations, King County Emergency Medical Services officials," said Dec 13, 1999.

As a public meeting at Kent Fire Department Station 74, officials outlined a series of proposals for funding Medic One which provides advanced life support services to fire departments throughout the county.

A task force whose job it was to examine ways to fund Medic One after the expiration of the current property tax levy in 2001 came up with several proposals to fund the highly-regarded system, but two proposals top the task force's list.

One of those would be a six-year property tax levy, and the other preferred option would be a six-year levy for life support services.

Regional services, such as those that serve Kent and other suburban cities, would be funded either through the county's general fund or Medic One transportation fees.

The second option may be questionable because of passage of Initiative 695 and the loss of some state funding to the county.

"The county doesn't have the general funds to (fully fund Medic One) unless a huge amount of money is taken from other programs," said Dr. Thomas Hearne, manager of the county's Emergency Medical Services Division. "At this point, the county council hasn't reviewed any of those programs.

Currently, property owners pay a levy of 29 cents per $1,000 of assessed value to fund Medic One, amounting to $58 [million] annually.

That levy was passed over whelmingly in February 1998, three months after a similar proposal failed before county voters.

Levy funds account for 73 precent of Medic One funding.

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File: medic.html
Posted: 06/27/00