Levy 2026
On November 3, 2026, voters within Umatilla County Fire District #1 will consider Measure 30-175, a five-year local option levy to retain current staffing & fund emergency medical and fire operations beginning in fiscal year 2027-28.
The proposed levy would provide funding to continue staffing 16 paramedics and firefighter/EMTs currently funded through a temporary Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant. That grant expires in 2027. Umatilla County Fire District #1 does not currently receive an operating levy from local taxpayers.
The proposed levy rate is $0.89 per $1,000 of assessed property value, which is estimated to cost less than $14 per month for the median household within the district.
The District has seen a 56% increase in calls for emergency service in the last 10 years and has used temporary federal grant funding to increase staffing in recent years to meet increasing demand for emergency services. Measure 30-175 would determine whether local funding replaces that temporary grant funding after it expires.
If Approved,
- Keep the 16 firefighter/paramedic and firefighter/EMT positions currently supported by grant funding.
- Keep Station 23 on Westland Road staffed.
- Maintain current emergency response levels.
If Not Approved,
- Lose 16 firefighter/paramedic and firefighter/EMT positions currently supported by grant funding.
- Station 23 on Westland Road is expected to lose staffing.
- The number of available firefighter/EMTS & paramedics available to respond to emergencies would be reduced.
Scope of Services
Umatilla County Fire District #1 serves approximately 48,000 residents across a 230-square-mile fire protection district encompassing the cities of Hermiston and Stanfield. The District also provides advanced life support ambulance service across a 620-square-mile response area, serving the communities of Hermiston, Stanfield, Echo, and Umatilla. UCFD#1 responded to more than 6,000 emergency calls in 2025, averaging more than 17 calls each day. About 82% of those calls were medical emergencies, with the remaining calls involving fire suppression, rescue, hazardous materials, public assistance, and other services. Approximately 70% of calls for service were dispatched while Umatilla County Fire District #1 crews were already committed to at least one other emergency in progress. As a result, ambulances and other emergency resources from neighboring agencies were frequently required to respond into the District to maintain emergency service coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
A: The District is primarily funded through a permanent property tax rate, as well as ambulance billing and temporary supplemental grants. Ambulance billing rates are set by Medicare and Medicaid and do not cover the full cost of services.
UCFD#1 is an independent special district that works collaboratively with Hermiston, Stanfield and Umatilla County but does not receive specific funding from any other budgets. It also does not receive full property tax revenue from enterprise zone agreements within the District.
A: UCFD#1 is the primary provider of paramedic and EMS services to more than 48,000 residents across west Umatilla County, including families, children, seniors, and facilities such as schools, nursing homes, assisted living, and more. About 82% of UCFD#1’s calls are for paramedic and EMS services (above the national trend of 65%), with emergency medical incidents ranging from heart attacks, strokes, and diabetes to falls, traumas, car accidents, and more.
A: Yes. UCFD#1 has used grant funding to reduce the taxpayer costs to staff paramedics and firefighters for as long as possible. The District’s reserve funds are earmarked for major equipment replacement like ambulances and fire apparatus. Using those funds for staffing would be a short-term solution and would create larger financial challenges in the future. UCFD#1 ultimately does not have enough consistent, stable funding in its reserves to support the long-term retention of the new 16 firefighter/paramedic & EMT positions.
A. A publicly elected Board of Directors reviews and approves all expenses and a volunteer Citizen Budget Committee meets annually to review and approve a balanced budget. Each year the District has passed a third-party audit.
A. No. This levy will not fund any expansion. If passed, it will help UCFD#1 sustain existing staffing levels and services that are currently supported by temporary federal funding.
Need More Information?
We want our community to have the information needed to make an informed decision. Ask any questions you have about UCFD#1, emergency services, or Measure 30-175 below, and we will provide an answer as soon as possible.
