Drafter
Clerk 06/03/2013
Title
AN ORDINANCE relating to the funding and provision of Medic One emergency medical services; providing for the submission to the qualified electors of King County, at special election on November 5, 2013, of a proposition to fund county-wide Medic One emergency medical services by authorizing the continuation of an additional regular property tax levy for a consecutive six year period, for collection beginning in 2014, at a rate of $0.335 or less per $1,000 of assessed valuation to provide for Medic One emergency medical services.
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PREAMBLE:
The Medic One Emergency Medical Services ("EMS") system of King County, publicly known as Medic One, is an integrated publicly funded partnership between the county, cities, fire districts, regional fire authorities, hospitals and the University of Washington.
Medic One/EMS is a tiered response system that is based on the regional medical model and collaborative partnerships. The services that EMS personnel provide are derived from the highest standards of medical training, practices and care, scientific evidence and close supervision by physicians experienced in EMS care. It includes basic life support by city, fire district and regional fire authority emergency medical technicians, advanced life support by University of Washington/Harborview Medical Center trained paramedics, and regional support programs that provide citizen and EMS personnel training, regional medical control and quality improvement.
The Medic One/EMS system of King County is recognized as one of the best emergency medical services program in the country. It saves thousands of lives every year, providing life-saving services on average every 3 minutes. Compared to other cities, cardiac arrest victims are 4 to 5 times more likely to survive. In 2011, it achieved a 52% survival rate for cardiac arrest, which is the highest rate to date anywhere.
The provision of Medic One emergency medical services on a countywide basis is a public purpose of King County. King County supports Medic One emergency medical services as a regional service that requires a continuing leadership role for the county. The county should continue to exercise its leadership and assume responsibility for assuring the orderly and comprehensive development and provision of Medic One emergency medical services throughout the county. The concern for assuring the continuance of a county-wide Medic One/EMS system is shared by King County cities, fire protection districts, and regional fire authorities that participate in the Medic One emergency medical services programs. Sustained funding for the regional Medic One/EMS system is needed to continue this essential service for the residents of King County.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Approval of cities over 50,000 in population. Pursuant to RCW 84.52.069, before submission to the electors of King County at a special election on November 5, 2013, approval to place this countywide levy proposal on the ballot will be obtained from the legislative bodies of all cities in the county over 50,000 in population.
SECTION 2. Definitions. The definitions in this section apply throughout this ordinance unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
A. "County" means King County.
B. "Levy" means the levy of regular property taxes, for the specific purpose and term provided in this ordinance and authorized by the electorate in accordance with state law.
C. "Levy proceeds" means the principal amount of funds raised by the levy, any interest earnings on the funds and the proceeds of any interim financing following authorization of the levy.
SECTION 3. City of Seattle reimbursement. It is recognized that the city of Seattle operates and funds a Medic One emergency medical services program that is separate from the county program but part of the regional delivery system. All levy proceeds collected pursuant to the levy authorized in this ordinance from taxable property located within the legal boundaries of the City of Seattle shall be reimbursed and transferred to the city of Seattle and used solely for the Seattle Medic One emergency medical services program in accordance with RCW 84.52.069.
SECTION 4. Levy submittal to voters. To provide necessary funds for the Medic One/EMS system under the authority of RCW.84.52.069, the county council shall submit to the qualified electors of the county a proposition authorizing a regular property tax levy for six consecutive years, with collection commencing in 2014, at a rate not to exceed $0.335 per one thousand dollars of assessed value. As provided under state law, this levy shall be exempt from the rate limitations under RCW 84.52.043, but subject in years two through six to the limitations imposed under Chapter 84.55 RCW.
SECTION 5. Deposit of levy proceeds. Except for the levy proceeds provided to the City of Seattle under section 3 of this ordinance, all levy proceeds shall be deposited into the county Emergency Medical Services fund.
SECTION 6. Eligible expenditures. If approved by the qualified electors of the county, all levy proceeds authorized in this ordinance shall be used in accordance with RCW 84.52.069.
SECTION 7. Call for special election. In accordance with RCW 29A.04.321, a special election is called for November 5, 2013, to consider a proposition authorizing an additional regular property tax levy for the purposes described in this ordinance. The director of elections shall cause notice to be given of this ordinance in accordance with the state constitution and general law and to submit to the qualified electors of the county, at the said special election, the proposition hereinafter set forth. The clerk of the council shall certify that proposition to the director of elections, in substantially the following form:
PROPOSITION ONE: The King County Council passed Ordinance ________ concerning funding for the county-wide Medic One emergency medical services system. This proposition would replace an expiring levy to continue funding of Medic One emergency medical services. It would authorize King County to impose regular property tax levies of $0.335 or less per thousand dollars of assessed valuation for each of six consecutive years, with collection beginning in 2014, as provided in King County Ordinance ___. Should this proposition be:
Approved? _____
Rejected? _____
SECTION 8. Interlocal agreement. The county executive is hereby authorized and directed to enter into an interlocal agreement with the City of Seattle relating to the Medic One program, to implement the provisions of section 3 of this ordinance.
SECTION 9. Local voters' pamphlet. The director of elections is hereby authorized and requested to prepare and distribute a local voters' pamphlet, pursuant to K.C.C. 1.10.010, for the special election called for in this ordinance, the cost of the pamphlet to be included as part of the cost of the election.
SECTION 10. Ratification. Certification of the proposition by the clerk of the county council to the King County director of elections in accordance with law before the election on November 5, 2013, and any other act consistent with the authority and before the effective date of this ordinance are hereby ratified and confirmed.
SECTION 11. Severability. If any provision of this ordinance or its application
to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the ordinance or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances if not affected.