LEVY | ccparamedics

Thank you for taking the time to learn about Canyon County Paramedics and the levy you will see on the May 2024 ballot. The purpose of this page is to provide an un-biased objective statement explaining the purpose and effect of the ballot measure. No statements herein are intended, nor should they be construed to be advocacy either for, or against, the levy override ballot initiative.

Canyon County Ambulance District was formed on December 30th, 1977 in order to provide for ambulance service throughout the entire county. The Ambulance District is funded separately from cities, fire districts, and the County. Property taxes account for approximately 30% of the needed funding for the Ambulance District’s annual budget. Canyon County Paramedics has not requested a levy override or bond measure to support the delivery of Emergency Medical Services within the last 23 years.

The Canyon County Ambulance District Board is proposing a 7.982-million-dollar levy override. This levy override would increase property taxes in Canyon County by $21.19 per $100,000 of assessed value.

The proposed levy override will fund:

1. Rebuilding of Station 41 in South Nampa

2. Construction of Station 55 in South Caldwell

3. Addition of two ambulances to the system (to include vehicles, equipment and supplies to make them operational)

4. 12 additional Paramedics to staff the new ambulances each day

In addition to the above needs, the levy will allow the Ambulance District to add stations, ambulances, equipment, and staff to meet the projected growth in 7 to 10 years’ time, not just today’s needs.

The proposed levy override will reduce response times by adding additional ambulances to the system, and provides the funding for the continued delivery of long-term solutions for Emergency Medical Services throughout Canyon County.

The levy override will appear on the May 21st ballot. The measure requires two-thirds majority approval from voters.

Click to View Exact Ballot Language

Station 41

Station 41 was funded and built in 2010 by Mercy Medical Center on their hospital campus in South Nampa. The hospital property was recently sold for development and the station will be demolished within the next two years. This leaves Canyon County Paramedics without its southern most station in Nampa. South Nampa is one of the busiest areas of Canyon County. Rebuilding Station 41 will preserve the current level of service in South Nampa, and will allow response times to be maintained. Moreover, Station 41 is required in order to provide the current level of emergency medical services to the South Nampa Community.

Station 55

Station 55 is planned to be constructed in South Caldwell between Lake Ave and Farmway Rd., South of Ustick Rd. As the data below shows, South Caldwell is an area where there is significant call volume, but also lacks adequate coverage to respond in a timely manner. Adding Station 55 will increase the number of ambulances available in Caldwell. This reduces the need for units operating in Nampa or Middleton to respond across the county, which lowers response times within the entire system and helps to maintain appropriate coverage in each community.

FAQ

Click for Station 41 Supporting Data

Click for Station 55 Supporting Data

Why does Canyon County Paramedics need two new stations?

Where will the new stations be located?

How does a Levy Override work?

What is the total levy override amount and how will the money be spent?

How much will this cost me?

Will response times change?

Why is a permanent levy override needed? Why won’t a temporary override or bond work?

Why do I pay taxes for the ambulance district but also get a bill when I use the ambulance?

How many votes does the levy override need to pass?

Where can I vote on May 21st?

Canyon County has experienced substantial growth over the last 5 years. Per the US census data, the population of Canyon County increased by over 20,000 residents since 2020. This has resulted in a 20 percent increase in calls for service for Canyon County Paramedics. This has required paramedic crews to travel further distances to respond to calls out of their primary response areas, and to respond to more calls than ever before.

The growth in Canyon County has increased to the point where additional full-time paramedics are needed—and new stations are needed to house them. Stations are strategically placed to ensure the quickest response to the majority of our calls. Because of budgetary restrictions, Canyon County Paramedics has not been able to construct a new station in over 20 years.

Under a levy-based tax system, the amount of property tax levied is based on the budgeted amount to provide services, not assessed value. Meaning that each district sets an annual budget, and the actual levy rate is determined by the budget NOT the assessed value in the county.

For more information on how our county levy system works and how your assessed value and property tax work within this levy-based system see:

https://www.canyoncounty.id.gov/elected-officials/assessor/assessment-information/

These new stations will be strategically placed in the locations they are needed, based on the heat map data we have collected over the last several years. Based on that data, Canyon County Paramedics plans to build the new stations in the following locations:

Medic 41’s station in South Nampa will be rebuilt between Iowa Ave and East Greenhurst Rd. along the 12th Ave Corridor.
Medic 55’s station in South Caldwell will be located between Lake Ave and Farmway Rd. East/West, and Ustick Road and Karcher Road North/South.

The proposed levy override will total 7.982 million dollars annually. The proposed levy override will fund:

Rebuilding of Station 41 in South Nampa
Construction of Station 55 in South Caldwell
Addition of two ambulances to the system (to include vehicles, equipment and supplies to make them operational)
Hiring of 12 additional Paramedics to staff the new ambulances each day
Replacement of aging medical equipment such as cardiac monitors and mechanical ventilators
Address insufficient Fund Balance
Future staffing, station remodels, and vehicle and equipment replacement

In addition, the Levy would ensure Canyon County Paramedics continues to grow with our community over the next decade.

I.C. § 34-914 Statement: The District currently levies a tax of $10.03 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, per year. The estimated annual cost to the taxpayer of the proposed levy is a tax of $31.22 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, per year, based on current conditions. Thus, if the proposed levy is approved, the tax per $100,000 of taxable assessed value is expected to increase by $21.19 per year. The proposed increase will be permanent.

The national average response time for Advanced Life support (ALS) is less than 8 minutes. Canyon County Paramedics’ current average is 8:54 seconds. This represents an increase of 1:02 seconds over the last 4 years. Response times are critical in saving lives, especially in time sensitive emergences such as a heart attack, stroke, or major trauma.

The rebuild of Medic 41’s station in South Nampa will ensure we maintain an adequate response time in one of the busiest areas of Nampa, and Canyon County.

The addition of Medic 55’s station in South Caldwell will reduce response times in Caldwell, and Canyon County. Ambulances from Nampa and Middleton are responding into Caldwell on a daily basis. By adding Medic 55, ambulances across the county will predominantly stay in their assigned areas and cross county responses will be significantly reduced.

The current and future needs of Canyon County Paramedics include fixed and ongoing cost. For example, an ambulance or station are fixed costs meaning once purchased no further costs are incurred. Personnel are ongoing costs meaning that as personnel are added, the costs are ongoing year to year.

A temporary override would provide the stations and vehicles needed right now, however, without a levy override, Canyon County Paramedics will not be able to staff them beyond a year when the temporary override ends. And without a permanent levy override, the Ambulance District will not be able to build the stations that are going to be needed in 7 to 10 years’ time, along with the additional staff and ambulances needed then.

The growth within Canyon County is going to continue, we need a permanent solution.

Canyon County Paramedics’ operating costs are supported both by property taxes and user fees. It has established a balanced setup that keeps the tax rate lower but requires a user fee if the service is utilized. If Canyon County Paramedics were to rely solely on one or the other, the tax rate or fee-for-service would need to be higher to support the operation and the cost of readiness. The cost of readiness is the cost to have adequate resources available 24/7, 365 to ensure adequate response in the case of an emergency.

Emergencies are unpredictable, and can happen to anyone, at any time. The benefit you receive by paying the Ambulance District tax is having the ambulance available all the time. The user fee ensures that those who do use an ambulance pay the costs over and above those of just ensuring the ambulance is available, and that those costs don’t get passed onto the tax payer. The balance between taxes and user fees is the fairest way to run the service.

Legal Information

I.C. § 34-914 Statement: The District currently levies a tax of $10.03 per $100,000 of taxable

assessed value, per year. The estimated annual cost to the taxpayer of the proposed levy is a tax

of $31.22 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, per year, based on current conditions. Thus,

if the proposed levy is approved, the tax per $100,000 of taxable assessed value is expected to

increase by $21.19 per year. The proposed increase will be permanent.