Fiduciary Responsibility and the EMS Rate: Making Tough but Necessary Decisions for Aberdeen

Recently, I attended a webinar through the Association of Washington Cities that focused on understanding ethics laws for elected officials. One of the topics that really stuck with me was fiduciary responsibility. It is a term that might sound complicated, but the idea behind it is simple.

As councilmembers, we have a fiduciary responsibility to the city we serve. That means we are entrusted to make decisions that protect the financial health of the city and serve the best interests of our residents. It means we must act with integrity, honesty, and care, even when the decisions before us are difficult. Sometimes, doing what is responsible does not feel good, but it is still the right thing to do.

The EMS Rate Review Process

At our September 24 meeting, the City Council voted to increase the EMS rate that appears on utility bills. I know this increase will be difficult for many households. I feel it too. Like many in our community, I live paycheck to paycheck, and I will also be paying this increase on my own utility bill. I understand how hard it is to see another cost added to an already stretched budget.

But I also want to share how we got to this point, because this was not a quick or careless decision.

At the beginning of this year, before I joined the Council in April, the City formed a Utility Rate Advisory Committee. Each ward’s councilmembers selected one community member to represent their ward, and the Mayor appointed one at-large member. Over about nine months, this group met, studied, asked questions, and learned everything they could about how our EMS system is funded and what options were available. Every member of that committee was a resident who would also be affected by any increase.

After all that work, the committee presented its recommendation to the Council during a dedicated workshop. We had the opportunity to review the findings, ask detailed questions, and really understand the implications. It was clear that this recommendation was made with care and with the best interest of the city in mind.

The committee examined every possible option. If there had been another way to fully fund our EMS system without a rate increase, they would have found it. These were community members who invested nearly a year studying the issue, alongside city staff who understand the budget inside and out. We can all agree that no one wants new fees. But saying "no new fees" only works if there is another way to fill the two-million-dollar gap in the EMS fund. The committee studied every possible option and could not find a cost-free solution. Without this increase, there was simply no way to keep the service running, the service that makes sure emergency help is there for you, your family, and your neighbors when it is needed most.

What the EMS Fee Covers

Our EMS fee ensures that every person in Aberdeen can receive emergency medical services without receiving a bill afterward. Your insurance is billed, but anything not covered by insurance is paid through this citywide fee. It is a shared investment in public safety, one that guarantees help is available to anyone who needs it, at any time.

This approach also protects our residents from financial hardship. A medical emergency should never lead to personal bankruptcy or the impossible choice between calling for help and worrying about the cost. By paying into this system together, we make sure no one in our community faces that burden alone.

The Financial Reality

For several years, EMS funding has fallen short of covering the true cost of the service. To keep EMS running, the City has been using money from the general fund to make up the difference, to the tune of roughly two million dollars a year. That meant less funding available for other critical services like streets, parks, and public safety.

This ongoing subsidy was one of the major contributors to the city’s current budget crisis. Even with cost-cutting efforts across all departments, we could not continue absorbing that two-million-dollar gap every year. Those cuts included reducing staff positions, including a Director-level role, in order to save money wherever possible. Our accounting firm made it very clear that if we stayed on the same path, the City could face bankruptcy within three to five years. That is not a responsible or sustainable way to govern.

When I sat down to vote, I wanted to vote no. I truly did. None of us wants to make life more expensive for our neighbors (and ourselves). But I also knew that my fiduciary responsibility required me to consider the long-term financial health of our city. The reality was that avoiding this decision would have led to far worse consequences down the road.

Looking Ahead

The good news is that these difficult decisions are already helping. We are now in the process of reviewing and approving the 2026 city budget, which is balanced largely because of the EMS rate adjustment. The first reading took place on October 22, and the second is scheduled for October 29, with final passage anticipated on November 12.

I encourage everyone to take a look at the proposed budget, attend council meetings, share your thoughts, and reach out to me directly if you have questions or concerns. Your input truly matters. It helps ensure that the choices we make reflect the needs and priorities of our whole community.

A Final Thought

Being a councilmember means balancing compassion with responsibility. I care deeply about the people who call Aberdeen home, and I also know that protecting our city’s future sometimes means making hard choices today.

I will continue to approach every decision with care, transparency, and a focus on what is best for the long-term health of our community. Thank you for trusting me to serve, and for continuing to stay engaged and informed. Together, we can make sure Aberdeen remains strong, stable, and ready for the future.