Clarkston, Washington After the City Council unanimously decided to include a significant EMS levy on the November 4, 2025 ballot, voters in Clarkston will decide the future of their city’s ambulance service this autumn.
According to Resolution No. 2025-12, the proposition asks voters to approve a $1,539,465 one-year excess property tax levy to pay for the city’s emergency medical services and ambulance in 2026. The levy would pay for the upkeep and operation of the city-run EMS system and, if approved, would cost property owners around $2.645 for every $1,000 of assessed property value.
The fire department was one of the busiest per firefighter in the area in 2024, responding to 3,261 emergencies, including 2,910 EMS calls and 351 fire-related events, according to Clarkston Professional Firefighters Local 2299. Only 13 firefighters work for the department, and six of them are paid for by the existing EMS levy.
Firefighters caution that the city would no longer be able to run its own ambulance service without levy permission. Other ideas include employing a private ambulance service, contracting with the Lewiston Fire Department, or giving EMS duties to county volunteers who currently cover a far bigger region with fewer resources. Within the 2.2 square mile area of Clarkston, these choices might result in slower response times and less access to cutting-edge emergency treatment.
According to a public post by the union, this levy directly funds the ambulance service you depend on. Clarkston will be completely unable to offer ambulance service if the EMS Levy fails.
In addition, municipal officials point out that the absence of EMS service would make it more difficult for the city to carry out its end of the bargain with the firefighters union, making emergency response efforts even more difficult.
The proposed levy’s proceeds would go into a special ambulance/EMS fund and be utilized only for emergency medical services in the city. On November 4, the measure will be presented concurrently with the state general election.
