I want to respond to a recent editorial about the Mukilteo EMS Levy renewal. The writers say that there is no need to renew the levy. I disagree and speak from personal experience.

Both my wife and I had heart attacks within a year of each other. I will be eternally grateful that paramedics responded when they did. It has given us more years together and time is precious at any age.

The fact is that our EMS levy saves lives. It’s unrealistic to think that EMS can survive on the same amount of money every year. The fire department can only increase its EMS budget by 1% per year, but costs are increasing an average of 4%.

The Mukilteo EMS levy is separate from anything else we pay the city for. You don’t like to pay the city taxes through its general property tax levy? Fine, but don’t kill the one funding source that actually saves lives that’s separate from all that. 

EMS accounts for 78% of all emergency calls in the city. We can’t rely on other fire departments to respond to our calls. I want my own city firefighters responding because it’s faster and those are my tax dollars at work.

Thank you,

Leroy “Pinky” Mcnulty
Mukilteo, WA 98275

Letter-to-Editor DISCLAIMER: The views and comments expressed are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the Lynnwood Times nor any of its affiliates.