By Kerri Sandaine
Lewiston Tribune
CLARKSTON, Wash. — The Clarkston City Council voted 7-0 Monday night to fund emergency medical services for the next nine months.
EMS was cut from the 2026 budget after the levy failed in November, but officials said they’ll ask voters to support another levy in August and keep services intact through September.
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Councilor Skate Pierce said reserves will take a significant hit to keep EMS going, and the next ballot proposal should be more reasonable than the one that got shot down in the November general election.
It was the first time an EMS levy has failed in the city of Clarkston, and officials have been scrambling to find a solution to fill the budget hole. In recent weeks, council meetings have been packed with people speaking in support of EMS.
Councilor Russ Evans said if the city runs an outrageous levy, it won’t pass. Asking property owners to fund a champagne appetite on a beer budget isn’t affordable for many Clarkston residents, he said.
Fire Chief Darren White said ambulance transports and medical services help cover the costs. However, some of the expenses were moved over to the fire department budget to make the nine-month plan for 2026 work.
The city and professional firefighters union does not have a contract in place, but White said the four employees who were previously notified of layoffs won’t lose their jobs. An agreement is expected sometime soon, he said.
Councilor Robin Albers said the city spends about $130,000 a month for the wages and benefits of the paramedics and firefighters. She requested more information on the budget and revenues as the city prepares for another levy request to maintain the 13 staff members at the fire station.
Pierce said about 70% of the city’s budget is spent on personnel. Clarkston runs a lean operation, and the failure of the EMS levy created a major problem. With no contract agreement in place, the council had to run a levy to cover all of the union’s initial requests, which created an unfortunate situation, he said.
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Mayor Monika Lawrence said the city relies on sales taxes for its primary sources of revenue. Without Costco and Walmart, Clarkston would be in dire straits, she said.
Many properties inside city limits are tax exempt, such as churches and government buildings, and very little money is generated from property taxes in comparison with other municipalities.
Small cities across the state are struggling with inflation, rising insurance costs, and covering cost-of-living wage increases every year, the mayor said. “We provide a lot of services and that costs money.”
Clerk Rachel Frost said more solid 2026 numbers will be provided once the union agreement is finalized.
In other city business, the mayor presented Councilor David Vinton with a plaque thanking him for his service since 2021. Vinton resigned in November that he was stepping down to focus on his family — his last day as a city official is Dec. 31 . At that point, the city has 90 days to appoint a replacement.
Vinton said it was an honor to serve the city, and he has learned a lot, especially in executive sessions. The public isn’t privy to all of the interesting details behind the scenes, he said.
Albers thanked Vinton for speaking his mind and offering his perspectives. He challenged the council to consider different viewpoints, and never shied away from tough topics, she said.
Vinton said he didn’t expect so much drama in a small town. The standing-room-only meetings about the area’s unhoused population and city parks were among the most memorable, he said.
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