Umatilla County Fire District No. 1 proposes levy for emergency staffing

Umatilla County Fire District No. 1 has referred a five-year local option levy to voters for the November 3 ballot. The proposal aims to secure permanent funding for 16 paramedic and firefighter/EMT positions currently supported by a temporary Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) SAFER grant that is set to expire in 2027.

The proposed levy rate is 89 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value, which the district estimates will cost the median household less than $14 per month. If approved, this would mark the first operating levy in the history of the district.

The district serves approximately 48,000 residents across a 230-square-mile area for fire protection and a 620-square-mile area for paramedic services. Fire Chief Scott Stanton noted that emergency call volume has increased by 56% over the last decade, driven by growing community demand and rising operational costs.