As a resident of Summit County for over three decades I have seen significant growth in both the east and west sides of our county. With the promotion and support of the tourism industry, Park City and Summit County have been very economically successful. This success comes with some unintended or perhaps unanticipated consequences, ranging from increased costs to our emergency services to waste management challengesOver the last 10+ years, I’ve provided various volunteer services for the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, most recently helping to operate Friends of Summit County Search and Rescue, a non-profit organization.With regard to emergency services, specifically Search and Rescue, the Summit County team of 42 volunteers responded to 112 calls in 2023 with well over 90% of those distress calls coming from out-of-towners. Keep in mind that Summit County is over 1,882 square miles — larger than Rhode Island.Imagine being called any time of day or night, in any weather, on average of twice a week to rescue someone somewhere in the wilderness of Summit County. Now imagine no one is paying you to do it, and almost every person or group you rescue is from out of town — tourists and out-of-the-area Utahns who were unprepared (or just unlucky) one way or another for Mother Nature, Summit County style. This is the world of the all-volunteer, frequently life-saving Summit County Search and Rescue team. Their work is dangerous and absolutely necessary. Volunteers locate lost or injured snowmobilers, hikers and people having their outdoor adventure ruined by other misfortunes. Search and Rescue responders race to these and other emergencies but the work carries significant costs — from proper training to gear, vehicles, tools and fuel.The annual equipment and training budget remaining after Sheriff’s Office personnel, fuel, and maintenance costs are deducted from the overall Search and Rescue budget is approximately $45,000. That’s just over $1,000 per member for equipment and training. The Search and Rescue team members use their own gear, on their own time at their own risk to help those in distress. The Utah Legislature mandates that Search and Rescue programs are the responsibilities of each Sheriff’s Office (though the Legislature doesn’t provide any funding to carry out that mandate).Summit County’s popularity as a year-round tourism destination will only increase, which means emergency calls will become more frequent. It’s a financially unsustainable situation. County residents are already contending with significant property tax hikes in recent years and should not foot the bill for visitors’ emergencies.Thankfully, there’s another way.County voters have a choice on election day to vote yes on a half-percent sales tax. Money raised from the Emergency Services Sales Tax (Proposition 18) would be earmarked for county services most heavily aIected by tourism: Search and Rescue, and other emergency services, law enforcement, fire protection and waste management.Tourism is the backbone of our Summit County economy, yes, but it comes at a cost, and it’s time to shift more of that burden onto our guests.Without Proposition 18, Summit County government faces a shortfall in its budget. The county only has a few tools available to increase revenue; without Proposition 18 it will need to look at yet another property tax hike — a burden that would be shouldered by residents, not tourists. Thank you for reading, and please vote yes on Proposition 18 so we can safely and successfully support our tourism industry and visitors without hitting homeowners again.One last thought: with the smoke in the air due to the fire in our mountains, please take time to thank the emergency responders keeping us safe.Brett MickelsonPark CityThe post They should help pay appeared first on Park Record.