Canyon County Ambulance Levy
What is the Canyon County Ambulance Levy about?The May 20, 2025, ballot includes a proposal for a two-year temporary levy to provide funding for Canyon County Emergency Medical Services (EMS). The levy would generate $7.98 million to support ambulance services, staff, and essential medical equipment.Why is this levy needed?Canyon County’s population has grown significantly, increasing the demand for emergency medical services. The levy would help maintain and improve response times by funding:The rebuilding of Station 41 in South NampaThe construction of Station 55 in South CaldwellAdditional ambulances and paramedics to meet rising call volumesReplacement of aging medical equipment, such as cardiac monitors and ventilatorsHow much would the levy cost homeowners?If passed, the levy would cost approximately $18.96 per $100,000 of assessed property value per year for two years. For a home valued at $300,000, this increase would be around $32.58 per year or $2.72 per month.Has the district requested funding before?Yes. In 2024, the district proposed two levy measures, but both failed to reach the required supermajority. This new proposal is a temporary measure, which requires only a simple majority (50%+1) to pass.Will the levy be permanent?No, the levy is temporary and will expire after two years unless voters approve a new measure in the future.What happens if the levy doesn’t pass?Without the levy, the district may face challenges such as:Longer ambulance response times due to insufficient resourcesAging equipment that may need to be taken out of serviceStaff shortages, leading to fewer available ambulancesDoes the county already fund EMS services?Yes, but property taxes only cover about 30% of EMS funding. The remaining budget comes from insurance reimbursements and patient billing. The levy would provide essential additional funding to maintain and improve servicesThe Canyon County Ambulance District Board is proposing a $7.9-million-dollar levy override. This levy override would increase property taxes in Canyon County by $18.62 per year per $100,000 of assessed value.The proposed levy override will fund:· Rebuilding of Station 41 in South NampaConstruction of Station 55 in South CaldwellAddition of one ambulance to the system (to include vehicles, equipment and supplies to make them operational)Hiring of 7 additional Paramedics with improved competitive wagesReplacement of aging medical equipment such as cardiac monitors and mechanical ventilatorsFuture staffing, station remodels, and vehicle and equipment replacementStation 41Station 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 55Station 55 is planned to be constructed in South Caldwell between Lake Ave and Farmway Rd., South of Ustick Rd. 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.Legal InformationThank you for taking the time to learn about Canyon County Paramedics and the levy you will see on the May 20th, 2025 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.I.C. § 34-914 Statement: The purpose of this two-year tax increase is to meet current and future demand for services by hiring paramedics, EMTs and support staff, equipping and maintaining the Ambulance District’s operations, repairing existing ambulances and vehicles, purchasing additional ambulances, and facilities, and to generally defray the cost of providing emergency medical services commencing October 1, 2025. The date of the election is May 20, 2025. The dollar amount estimated to be collected each year of the levy is $7,900,000. The estimated annual cost to the tax payer will be $18.62 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, per year, based on current conditions.📷
