Should ECFR seek a bond issue? If you are a resident of the ECFR service area, please read, and follow the link to take our survey. Three of ECFR’s apparatus (Engine-93, Engine-94 & Squad-96) consume 30% of the District’s annual maintenance budget. The District has 15 response apparatus in its 6 Fire/EMS Stations. East County Fire & Rescue used to pay for new fire apparatus & equipment, and fire station upgrades, out of regular tax revenue—no tax increases were requested. Since the economic downturn, with tax revenue dropping, capital projects have been delayed in favor of keeping stations staffed (we cut several programs and laid-off 52 hours/week of Office Help to keep our Fire Engines staffed). As a result: * Three fire engines have exceeded the Survey & Rating Bureau’s recommended 15-Year Service Life. (2 have significant maintenance issues and high repair costs). * One Squad (Brush Truck) is outdated and has significant maintenance issues and high repair costs. * Some firefighting equipment is worn-out and some medical equipment has out-lived its practical service life. * The parking lot at the Sunnyside Fire Station needs to be replaced. There is no running water at the Livingston Mountain Fire Station. * There is no emergency generator at the 24 hour-staffed Mount Norway Station. The Fire District has lost over $1 million in tax revenue since the beginning of the economic downturn. The Fire District’s budget has dropped from $2 million per year to $1.4 million this year. ** $1,275,082 Bond for Capital Projects. The Bond is estimated to cost 9-cents per $1,000 of Assessed Valuation. ** If approved, it would pay for: *** 2 New Fire Engines (each $425k) $850,000 *** 1 Brush Truck (replaces existing rig) $ 90,000 *** Update Firefighting/Medical Equipment $ 95,000 *** Emergency Generator at Station 94 $ 50,000 *** Parking Lot Repair at Station 93 $ 55,000 *** Water Well at Station 92 $ 28,000 *** Sales Tax $107,082 “The Bond issue would replace apparatus that have seen their maintenance costs climb significantly—despite the District’s preventative maintenance program. Replacement of these vehicles will improve reliability and, thus, improve service to our Customers and to our Community. The facilities projects will provide basic equipment for fire station operation; and repair problems that we don’t have the money to fix due to the current economyâ€. Scott Koehler, Fire Chief surveymonkey/s/D39BGK2
Posted on: Wed, 03 Jul 2013 03:57:14 +0000
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