Fire District will host two town halls over bond issue

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Warrenton-area voters curious about a proposed $10 million bond issue for the Warrenton Fire Protection District will have two chances to get their questions answered ahead of local elections coming up in April.

Town hall meetings will be held Wednesday March 15 at 7 p.m., and Saturday April 1 at 10 a.m., to give voters a chance to ask questions and hear more information about the proposed bond. Both meetings will be held at Warrenton Fire Station 2, located at 26625 S. Highway 47 in Warrenton.

The fire district is asking voters to approve $10 million in bond financing, a type of loan that a public agency promises to pay back using tax funding. Voting to approve a bond grants a public entity permission to raise property taxes as necessary to repay its debt.

Bond funding would be restricted for use in replacing vehicles, repairing and improving facilities, and replacing equipment, all of which are aging and need to be addressed for fire and rescue staff to continue functioning effectively, the district says.

The Warrenton Fire District in January estimated that its property tax rate would increase by about 26 cents if the bond is approved. That equates to about $99 per year on a $200,000 home.

This bond would also have a 20-year expiration, meaning the extra tax would end automatically unless voters renew it.

Here’s the exact language of the bond proposition:

“Shall the Warrenton Fire Protection District issue its general obligation bonds in the amount of ten million dollars ($10,000,000.00) for the purposes of acquiring, constructing, renovating, improving, furnishing and equipping fire stations and related facilities, acquiring and equipping firefighting vehicles, support vehicles and other lifesaving equipment, apparatus and auxiliary equipment to meet current safety standards, improve emergency services, and refunding outstanding lease obligations?

“The authorization of the bonds will authorize the levy and collection of an annual tax in addition to the other taxes provided for by law on all taxable tangible property in the District sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds as they fall due, and to retire the same within twenty years from the date thereof.”

Warrenton Fire Protection District, Election, Bond, Tax

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