East Pierce Fire & Rescue is preparing to ask voters to approve a bond issue for replacing and remodeling its fire stations and upgrading equipment.
The East Pierce Fire Board of Commissioners moved to direct Fire Chief Bud Backer to prepare and finalize a capital facilities bond that will come to voters in November.
The bond is estimated at $80 million for 20 years. If approved, that means an approximate 25 cents per $1,000 value increase for residents, or about $100 per year ($8.33 per month) for a house costing $400,000.
This is the first time East Pierce Fire has prepared a bond since its formation in 2000. “We need to make a lot of adjustments to make things safe, make things more reasonable and updated … not only for our employees but particularly for the people we serve, and I hope we can get folks to go with us on this,” board chair Dale Mitchell said at a commissioners meeting on June 19.