Payette County Paramedics

06/01/2026

🚑 The 100 Deadliest Days of Summer are here.

From Memorial Day through Labor Day, Idaho roads see a significant increase in serious and fatal crashes. As travel increases and summer activities ramp up, so do the risks.

Every call we respond to represents someone's family, friend, neighbor, or loved one. Many of these tragedies are preventable.

Before you hit the road this summer:
✅ Buckle up
✅ Slow down
✅ Drive sober
✅ Put the phone away
✅ Stay alert and watch out for others

One choice can change everything.

Let's work together to make this summer a safe one for everyone in Payette County and across Idaho.

Arrive Alive. ❤️🚑

05/30/2026

On May 19, 2026, the Payette County Paramedics (P*P) permanent supplemental Levy override did not pass. This measure required 66.67% to pass and the levy received 42.21%.

Thank you to everyone who supported this effort ─ we are incredibly grateful! Your support for P*P and the future of emergency medical services in Payette County means more than we can express!

P*P will continue to respond to every call we are able to, provide exceptional care to every patient and serve this community to the best of our ability.

We want to be transparent: the operational needs this levy was intended to address have not gone away.

As a result, Payette County Paramedics will:

Decommission one ambulance, reducing the fleet to a single staffed ambulance

Leave current vacancies unfilled

Continue facing staffing shortages because we are unable to offer wages competitive with surrounding agencies

Rely more heavily on mutual aid from neighboring agencies

Continue operating beyond budgeted capacity

Place additional strain on existing staff, who are already stretched across multiple roles

Without additional operational funding, these challenges will continue affecting our ability to maintain emergency medical service levels throughout Payette County.

P*P and Payette County will continue to explore every available path to sustainable funding and will keep the community informed every step of the way. Follow along at https://www.payettecountyparamedics.org/

Though this is not the outcome we had hoped for, thank you, Payette County! Your trust, engagement, and continued support of your paramedics will make a difference in the future of Payette County emergency medical services.

05/25/2026

Today, we pause to remember and honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. Their sacrifice, courage, and dedication will never be forgotten.

From all of us at Payette County Paramedics, we extend our deepest gratitude to the fallen, their families, and all who have served. As we gather with friends and family this Memorial Day, we encourage everyone to take a moment to reflect on the true meaning of the holiday and remember those who made our freedoms possible. 🇺🇸

We will never forget.

05/19/2026

Today is Election Day for the Payette County Paramedics Levy. Here is everything you need to know before you head to the polls.



WHAT YOU ARE VOTING ON: The ballot asks whether to authorize a permanent supplemental levy of $88 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value for the Payette County Paramedics. This funding covers day-to-day EMS operations; staffing, ambulances, and critical equipment. It does not pay for the new EMS building (that is funded separately through federal ARPA dollars and does not require a tax increase).



COSTS: The increase is $65.44 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value per year. $5.45 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value per month. This is the annual cost, not a yearly increase.



IF APPROVED: A third ambulance staffed 24/7. Seven new positions. Competitive wages to recruit and retain paramedics. A structured plan to replace aging ambulances and equipment. Reduced reliance on mutual aid from neighboring agencies.



IF NOT APPROVED: The Payette County Paramedics must operate within its current budget. Response times will be affected resulting in a lower level of service. Staffing shortages continue. Older vehicles remain in service longer. There is no alternative funding source to replace the levy.



Polls are open today. Absentee ballots must be returned by end of day.



Vote in the Primary Election, support your community!



Learn more at: www.payettecountyparamedics.org/levy



Learn more about the Payette County Primary Election: www.payettecounty.org/elected-officials/clerk/election-information



The estimated average annual cost to the taxpayer of the proposed permanent levy is a tax of $88 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, per year, based on current conditions. If the proposed levy is approved, the tax per $100,000 is expected to increase $65.44 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value per year.

05/18/2026

🚨It's EMS week!!🚨

This week, we celebrate the incredible men and women who serve on the front lines of our community. From emergency calls and critical care to transport and prevention, our EMS providers are always ready, day or night.

To every EMT, paramedic, dispatcher, and support staff member in Payette County and beyond--Thank you for your dedication, compassion, and unwavering commitment to saving lives.

We are grateful for you today and every day!💙💙

05/18/2026

Question: Does approving the levy mean your taxes go up by $65.44 every single year?



Answer: NO! The $65.44 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value is the total annual levy increase, not a figure that compounds year after year. That is $5.45 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value per month. Also, as the County’s assessed value continues to increase, the impact of the levy should go down. This post provides a general, simple breakdown of the tax impact of the levy. A personalized tax impact calculator is available HERE to show your likely tax impact.



Tomorrow is Election Day. Vote in the Primary Election, support your community!



Learn more at: www.payettecountyparamedics.org/levy



Learn more about the Payette County Primary Election: www.payettecounty.org/elected-officials/clerk/election-information



The estimated average annual cost to the taxpayer of the proposed permanent levy is a tax of $88 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, per year, based on current conditions. If the proposed levy is approved, the tax per $100,000 is expected to increase $65.44 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value per year.

05/18/2026

05/15/2026

Early voting for the Payette County Paramedics Levy closes today!



If you have not yet cast your ballot, today is your last opportunity to vote early. After today, absentee ballots may still be returned by mail or in person through May 19.



Election Day voting takes place on May 19th at your regular polling location.



Vote in the Primary Election, support your community!



Learn more at: www.payettecountyparamedics.org/levy



Learn more about the Payette County Primary Election: www.payettecounty.org/elected-officials/clerk/election-information

05/15/2026

The outcome of the May 19th levy vote will have direct, concrete consequences for emergency medical services in Payette County.

Without the levy, Payette County Paramedics will face compounding challenges with no clear path to resolution. Noncompetitive wages, currently up to 30% below neighboring agencies, have already cost the department two employees and left two positions unfilled in the last six months alone. That gap will continue to grow. A second ambulance will be decommissioned, reducing coverage from two ambulances to one and directly increasing response times across the county. Mutual aid requests (calling on outside agencies for help) rose 75% in 2025, and vehicle maintenance costs already exceeded budget by 13%. Battalion Chiefs are currently stretched across both administrative and response roles, a strain that is not sustainable.

If the levy passes, Payette County Paramedics will be able to offer market-competitive wages to recruit and retain qualified staff, staff a third ambulance 24/7, reduce response times, reduce reliance on mutual aid, and allow personnel to focus on their designated roles rather than covering multiple positions. Support the Levy on May 19.

Learn more at: www.payettecountyparamedics.org/levy

05/13/2026

Can’t the funds being used for Payette Paramedics’ new EMS building cover operations? Short answer, NO.



The ARPA federal funds being used to construct the new EMS facility are legally restricted to capital infrastructure ONLY. These dollars cannot be used to cover payroll, ambulance operations, equipment purchases, or any ongoing service costs.



If the levy does not pass, there is no alternative funding source to satisfy the operational needs of the Payette County Paramedics.



Payette County Paramedics would be required to operate within its existing, strained budget, which will have a direct impact on staffing levels, ambulance availability, and response times across Payette County.



Vote in the Primary Election, support your community!



Learn more at: www.payettecountyparamedics.org/levy



Learn more about the Payette County Primary Election: www.payettecounty.org/elected-officials/clerk/election-information