By Nance Beston
Columbia Basin Herald
SOAP LAKE, Wash. — Grant County Fire District 7’s replacement Emergency Medical Services levy appeared headed for approval Wednesday after preliminary election results showed voters supporting the measure by a comfortable margin.
As of the Nov. 10 ballot count, Proposition No. 1 received 914 “yes” votes, or 59.47%, compared to 623 “no” votes, or 40.53%. Election results remain unofficial until certification Nov. 24.
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The measure would replace the district’s existing EMS levy and increase the rate from 25 cents to 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value for six years beginning in 2027.
Fire Chief Erick Brittain said district officials were encouraged by the early results and grateful for the community’s support.
“We’re very pleased with the initial results and honored that our constituency has that trust in us to increase our service,” Brittain said. “It’s just a testament to the hard work that our crews have been doing, and I’m very, very proud and honored that the results are going the way they are right now.”
District leaders said throughout the campaign additional funding was needed to keep pace with growing demand for emergency medical services. According to Brittain, EMS calls now account for about 85% of all responses and call volumes have steadily increased as the Soap Lake area grows.
Brittain said he believes voter support was earned through the district’s efforts to remain transparent with residents while maximizing available resources.
“I think it is our constant dedication not only to transparency within our department, but our overall ability to increase our staffing levels and our level of service,” Brittain said. “We’ve done some creative things to lessen that burden on our taxpayers, such as grant funding, and we continue to be active in pursuing those revenue streams.”
The levy campaign was also closely tied to the future of two district positions currently supported through a federal SAFER grant scheduled to expire at the end of 2026. Earlier this year, Brittain warned that without additional revenue, the district could face difficult decisions regarding EMS staffing. If the measure is ultimately certified, Brittain said the district’s outlook changes dramatically.
“Those positions will be guaranteed, 100% funded,” he said. “As well as through creative budgeting, we will be adding another two positions to our daytime positions.”
Brittain said passage of the levy would create four full-time permanent positions funded through local revenue rather than temporary grant dollars.
In addition to staffing, district officials plan to invest in ambulance service and equipment. The district’s primary ambulance is a 2017 model with approximately 170,000 miles and officials have identified a second ambulance as a priority in their long-term strategic plan.
Brittain said the district hopes to place the older ambulance at its Blue Lake station, reducing response times to parts of the district that can currently be up to 30 minutes away from the main station.
“To put those transporting ambulances in strategic positions throughout the district is just better service for our constituency,” he said.
One of the district’s biggest operational challenges has been handling simultaneous emergencies, known among first responders as “double taps.” Brittain said roughly 30% of the district’s calls occur while crews are already committed to another emergency.
Currently, captains often serve dual roles, acting as both ambulance drivers and incident commanders while relying heavily on volunteers and mutual aid partners to fill service gaps.
The additional staffing funded by the levy would help reduce strain, Brittain said.
“Right now, we’ve been doing the best we can, and we’ve been able to fill a lot of those double calls without having to rely on our partners from Lifeline Ambulance or other entities,” he said. “If we’re more self-sustaining as our population grows, as our constituency grows and as the need for service grows, then we don’t have to rely on others as much.”
The benefits would extend beyond district boundaries, he added, by allowing neighboring emergency service providers to remain available in their own communities rather than covering calls in Soap Lake and surrounding areas.
Residents are also expected to notice faster responses when multiple emergencies occur at the same time.
“We’ll be seeing those secondary calls getting out a lot quicker,” Brittain said. “For this small department, it’s going to be monumental.”
The district experiences significant seasonal population swings, particularly around Sun Lakes , where summer tourism can dramatically increase service demands. Brittain said additional staffing and ambulance capacity would improve the district’s ability to serve both residents and visitors during peak periods.
He also anticipates EMS demand continuing to rise in coming years.
“I think it will increase at least 10% a year,” Brittain said, citing ongoing population growth and planned developments in the area.
While district officials celebrated the preliminary results, Brittain acknowledged concerns from residents worried about increased taxes.
“We get it,” he said. “We would not ask for this increase if it wasn’t a need at this point. We’re trying to do as much as we can with as little tax burden as possible while maintaining that excellent service our constituency deserves.”
He added, regardless of how residents voted, emergency responders remain committed to serving the entire community.
“It doesn’t matter how you vote,” Brittain said. “We’ll still be continuing to deliver that same amazing care that people have expected and deserve in this community.”
Brittain also thanked voters who supported the measure and pledged accountability if the results hold through certification.
“We will continue to be transparent and excellent stewards of taxpayers’ money,” he said. “We’re honored every day to serve the wonderful community that we live in.”
If certified later this month, the levy would provide an estimated $250,000 annually for EMS operations, staffing, equipment and ambulance services throughout the district.
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