Redmond proposes levy to tackle emergency services crunch

• To keep up with the number of emergency calls, local governments throughout the region are asking residents for more money in the form of tax levies.

Details: Redmond Fire District is battling a simultaneous spike in demand with a chronic staffing shortage, contributing to longer response times and burnout among its employees.

• City officials are hoping to tackle the crisis with a new levy that would allow the hire of additional paramedics and firefighters and reduce cross-staffing throughout departments.

By the numbers: According to an Oregon Public Broadcasting report, calls for service in Redmond, which has a service area of 294 square miles just north of Bend, have risen 68% since 2016.

The intrigue: Whether the levy will pass is uncertain. Bend and La Pine voters narrowly approved similar measures, yet Redmond's voter demographic leans more conservative.

• But if the city's population continues to grow at a similar rate, a further levy could be needed in a few years.