Voters will be asked to approve a $3.5 million levy to improve emergency services on Whidbey Island on the Tuesday, Sept. 19 primary election ballot.

It’s an all-or-nothing proposal. The Whidbey General Hospital EMS levy pays for half of the hospital’s emergency services, but the measure is both a renewal of the existing 37 cent per $1,000 levy and a 13-cent increase.

If the measure does not pass, the proposed $3.8 million annual increase will not only be lost, but the entire levy, as well.

“It’s up to the voters to ensure the future of our ambulances,” said Roger Meyers, hospital EMS director.

“If it fails, we get nothing,” he said.

The six-year levy marks only the second time in 28 years that the hospital has asked for an increase.

The proposed increase will help Whidbey General Hospital pay for the increased demand for emergency services, including off-island transports to other hospitals and the construction of new paramedic facilities on South Whidbey.

If approved, it will also help finance EMS services in Coupeville and help the hospital district move toward a central clinic in Bayview.

The proposed measure would increase the property tax levy from 37 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation to 50 cents per $1,000. The annual property tax bill on a $300,000 home would rise from $111 to $150, a yearly increase of $39.

Supporters of the measure say emergency care for island residents depends on voters saying yes to the measure.

“Just over half — 51 percent — of the hospital emergency services budget comes from the EMS levy,” Meyers said.

If the levy passes, it will help pay for the purchase of five basic life support ambulances.

The hospital hopes to increase basic life support services by placing two ambulances in North Whidbey Fire and Rescue, and one at the city of Oak Harbor Fire Department and one in central Whidbey.

Although the hospital would provide $142,000 per ambulance, the fire districts would be responsible for staffing the vehicles.

South Whidbey Fire District 3 has decided not to go with the plan.

“We support the concept of BLS units, but we can’t participate because the dollars don’t equate,” said Chief Dan Stout of Fire District 3.

“As far as the hospital’s plan now, we are not going to get involved staffing the hospital’s BLS units,” Stout said.

Stout added that he will continue to be part of the planning process with the hospital and the other chiefs.

He also said the fire district will continue offering the same emergency services it does now.

“We have an effective response system with our Medical Emergency Response Vehicles, or MERVs, private vehicles and attack vehicles. We are almost always first on the scene,” Stout said.

More than half the levy or 7 cents of the increase would be used to purchase new ambulances. Five cents of the increase would go to construction of central and South Whidbey paramedic quarters; one cent is needed to offset decreasing reimbursements and increasing costs.

Hospital officials say it’s the right time to seek an increase in the levy.

“Call volume continues to rise, especially in off-island transfers to other hospitals,” Meyers said.

Meyers said an off-island transport can mean the loss of an ambulance on Whidbey Island for five hours or more. Other ambulances are then mobilized from North Whidbey and strategically placed to cover for the missing unit.

The levy needs a 60 percent super majority to pass, and 8,190 voters need to vote in the election for it to be valid.