Benton County Fire District #1 to ask voters to approve bond in November

Residents living within the boundaries of Benton County Fire District #1 will have a chance in November to approve a capital improvement bond.

The Board of Fire Commissioners for District #1 agreed to place the capital improvement bond on the November 5 ballot.

If approved, the bond 20-year bond would cost property owners an estimated 10-cents per $1,000 of assessed property value (AV), which is one cent less than the two bonds that the district recently paid off.

The funds raised through the bond would provide renovations at Station 150 (Badger Canyon) that would allow the station to be staffed 24 hours a day, and to replace a fire ladder truck at Station 120 (Finley).

Replacing the ladder truck will allow the district to maintain its current insurance rating.

A hike in the insurance rating could result in higher homeowner insurance rates.

Staffing Station 150 around the clock could also lower the fire district’s insurance rating.

If voters approve the bond, homeowners would pay an estimated $2.92 per month ($35 a year) for property valued at $350,000.

“This means lower premiums for home and business owners,” said Fire Chief Lonnie Click.  “If our insurance rating goes up, the risk, and related premiums, increases for property owners.”

Benton County Fire District #1 funds daily operations through a fire levy of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value, which voters renew every six years, whereas capital projects – such as building new stations and replacing critical equipement – are funded through voter-approved bonds.

In the last two years, the fire district paid off two such bonds averaging 11 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.

The fire district asked voters to renew funding for the fire district levy and bond on the August ballot. Voters renewed their fire levy, and a majority of voters (54.38%) supported the bond on the ballot, but it was not enough to pass with the super-majority (60%) requirement.

“The need for investment in our fire district is still there.’” said Chief Click.  “With a majority of folks approving of it, we felt we just needed to work harder at communicating what that funding will protect and provide for citizens.”