Today, Port Townsend’s firefighters, EMTs and paramedics work for East Jefferson Fire Rescue. The engines, ambulances and buildings, including the uptown station, belong to EJFR. A contact is periodically renegotiated to ensure everyone served by EJFR pays the same rate, regardless of where they live.

Under annexation, instead of paying the city of Port Townsend for fire and emergency medical services, Port Townsend taxpayers will pay EJFR directly. By doing so, we finally have a vote for the commissioners who govern it.

Annexation saves everyone money and increases efficiency by getting rid of the middleman. Our fire and EMS is out of city budget politics.

The so-called double taxation is a red herring. Port Townsend taxpayers will only be taxed once for fire and EMS under annexation. Yes, the city retains its taxing authority under state law. That’s true whenever something is removed from the city budget, regardless of how big or small. This time, however, the city council has bound itself so it only can tap this part of its taxing authority for specified high-priority needs constantly demanded by voters but currently underfunded.

Further, for the first time I know of, they also are only allowed to levy taxes and use those funds under a specific procedure, which includes going to voters in advance to see if it’s something we want.

Vote yes on annexation. It means better representation on taxation and ensures excellent fire and EMS for the future.

PHYLLIS SPESER
Port Townsend