Vote yes for EMS Levy
Published 1:30 am Thursday, February 3, 2022
Recently, a group has come out opposed to the renewal of the EMS Levy, primarily as a means to force a merger of EMS with San Juan Fire. Last November, voters failed to provide the required 60% support for a proposed levy designed to fund this merger. Accordingly, the Public Hospital District discontinued its past pursuit of the merger and is seeking renewal of the EMS levy to continue its funding as a stand-alone entity.
I am voting yes on the EMS levy because it is the sensible and logical thing to do. Allowing the levy to expire to force a merger, like a shotgun wedding, is guaranteed to increase whatever rancor and disagreement that existed before. We do not need this situation in our community, particularly between two excellent groups of first responders upon whom we depend so heavily.
Rather, the sensible thing to do is to continue EMS as a stand-alone organization to ensure islanders will continue to receive the high level of care they provide and pursue a merger at a later date.
Ignore the rancor, misinformation, and divisiveness. Vote YES to renew the EMS levy.
Barbara Sharp
San Juan Island
