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Keep Mukilteo's EMS as is

Published on Wed, Aug 11, 2010
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Dear Editor,

After much review and discussion with the staff of the city of Mukilteo, I will be voting “No” on the EMS Levy.

My three main reasons that for that “No” vote are: 

One, the levy includes a 5 percent raise in employee cost and benefits every year, two, the increase to 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value represents a 42 percent increase in taxes, and, three, a “Yes” vote will make this a permanent levy, which will not offer the citizens any opportunity to change the levy as needed.

Of course, the voters could always take another vote to change the terms, however, that is very unlikely and a much more difficult outcome to achieve.

Which of us is guaranteed a 5 percent raise in wages and benefits every year?  Those days are gone. With taxpayers struggling to meet the family budget needs, high unemployment and many businesses struggling to stay afloat, this levy is far too rich for the times and doesn’t offer the flexibility the  city’s citizens need.


Mukilteo is a fairly “rich” community in which there are plenty of residents who can afford this increase, but that is not true for all of us.


I appreciate the quality provided by the Mukilteo EMS and have had to use their services once myself. I am not suggesting a reduction in services but rather a continuation of their hard work to achieve high standards in line with what the community can afford.


Diane Symms

Mukilteo