AIRWAY HEIGHTS — The idea that Airway Heights remains the fastest growing city in the state of Washington is by now old news. And how city officials continue to wrestle with all that has been the topic of many city council meeting.
Whether it be properly maintained streets, plentiful parks and other amenities, a government that works to serve its citizens and more, the Airway Heights City Council has touched on most every facet. At their June 14 study session the ever-growing needs of the public safety sector were outlined — along with questions on how to address holes in the system — for council.
Leading the discussion that included fire, police and municipal court was Fire Chief Mitch Metzger whose agency is seeing funding through an EMS levy approved in 2015 coming to an end and whether, when or how it ought to be in the future?
As discussed at length, the needs have skyrocketed across the board with the question floating about council as to whether the current 25-cents per $1,000 valuation level which expires at the end of the year is the best path forward?
The present funding mechanism covers just EMS/fire with police and courts budgets tapping into the city’s general fund.
But it’s more than just the day-to-day expenses of salaries and equipment for the three services that operate under the public safety umbrella.
Airway Heights’ fire station dates back decades and is said to be in need of a from-scratch do-over. Many police cars have hit the milestone 100,000-mile mark and upgrades are needed in the office of the court.
“EMS levy money can be utilized in a variety of ways,” Metzger told council including labor, fuel, equipment, training and more.
Levies can span either six of 10 years, but Metzger said they chose the lesser term fir their first ask in 2015 to show voters “We use their money wisely.”
The 25-cents per $1,000 pulls in about $190,000, money that does not come out of the general fund. In reasonably current numbers that assessment means a $300,000 home produces $75 worth of funding per year for the city’s EMS needs.
However, when that measure was approved EMS-specific call volume for the department was 822 per year. “In the last six years, we’ve gone up 1,000 calls, just in EMS related incidents,” Metzger said. Everything else has also increased markedly in that span.
The options to replace the levy while other comprehensive public safety funding is studied include, of course, general fund dollars, Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) money or even a variety COVID-19 cash. But if there is a desire to keep it council action is required soon in order for the measure to appear on the Nov. 2 general election ballot.
With the current growth that projects Airway Heights will see a population nearly 15,000 by 2040, longer-term and more inclusive fixes appear necessary according to a number of members of council. The city grew nearly 64% adding 3,900 people since 2010.
As he has stated before, council member Larry Bowman cites the ever-increasing tribal presence with two casinos as contributors to the drain on public safety resources.
“But also, I think that this is the right moment in time where we earnestly take a look, honestly take a look, at the spillover effect from our tribal partners,” Bowman said.
And while he did not link them, Police Chief Brad Richmond said, “We were almost 5,000 calls for service more last year than we were a year before.”
Councilmember Art Bubb briefly touched that emotionally-charged “third rail” with a dreaded four-letter word: bond.
“But a long-term plan might include a bond and I know that’s an ugly word to throw out,” Bubb said. Levies are great for a short-term period but maybe there’s need to see what a bond cost.
Mayor Sonny Weathers presented a pair of scenarios for consideration as council ponders where the road leads next.
“The best-case scenario is that we’re equipped that we’re ready and there’s no need to dispatch,” Weathers said. “The worst-case scenario is we’re under-equipped but the need is greater than we can supply and we don’t want to find ourselves in that circumstance.”
No specific date was mentioned as to when council will next address the matter, but it is bound to resurface sooner rather than later as the calendar if advancing.
Paul Delaney is a retired Free Press Publishing reporter and can be reached at [email protected].
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