CLARKSTON, WA – Clarkston voters will determine the future of their city’s ambulance service this fall, following a unanimous vote by the City Council to place a crucial EMS levy on the November 4, 2025 ballot.

The measure, outlined in Resolution No. 2025-12, seeks voter approval for a one-year excess property tax levy totaling $1,539,465 to fund the city’s ambulance and emergency medical services in 2026. If approved, the levy would cost property owners approximately $2.645 per $1,000 of assessed property value and fund the maintenance and operation of the city-run EMS system.

According to Clarkston Professional Firefighters Local 2299, the fire department responded to 3,261 emergencies in 2024, including 2,910 EMS calls and 351 fire-related incidents—making it one of the busiest fire departments per firefighter in the region. The department operates with only 13 firefighters, and six of those positions are funded through the current EMS levy.

Firefighters warn that without levy approval, the city would lose its ability to operate its own ambulance service. Alternative options would include contracting with the Lewiston Fire Department, hiring a private ambulance provider, or transferring EMS responsibilities to county volunteers—who currently serve a much larger area with fewer resources. These options could lead to longer response times and reduced access to advanced emergency care within Clarkston’s 2.2-square-mile area.

“The ambulance service you rely on is funded directly by this levy,” the union stated in a public post. “If the EMS Levy fails, Clarkston will lose its ability to provide ambulance service altogether.”

City officials also note that the lack of EMS coverage would jeopardize the city’s ability to fulfill its labor contract with the firefighters’ union, further complicating emergency response operations.

The funds from the proposed levy would be placed in a dedicated Ambulance/EMS Fund and used exclusively for the city’s emergency medical services. The measure will appear alongside the state general election on November 4.