The Marthasville Fire District will seek voter approval for a bond issue on the Tuesday, April 2, ballot.Revenue from the bond issue, labeled Proposition F, will fund construction of a new Fire Station 1 located in Marthasville and upgrade aging fire rescue equipment.The proposed 28 cent tax increase will yield $1,750,000 in revenue over a 10-year period, according to the fire district.At a 4 percent interest rate, the annual debt service for the bonds will be $215,759.The fire district currently receives $303,000 with its current levy of $0.3965 to fund fire protection in the Marthasville Fire District.Revenue from the bond issue can only be used for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, renovating, improving, maintaining and equipping fire stations and related facilities and acquiring new and replacement firefighting equipment and vehicles to carry out the objectives and purposes of the district.The Marthasville Volunteer Fire Department and the fire district board will remain a 100 percent volunteer department, officials said.“The ability to provide continuous training, update outdated equipment, and meticulously maintain all fire rescue gear allows for your dedicated volunteers to protect all of us in the community,” said Chief Jeff Backhaus of the Marthasville Volunteer Fire Department.“This bond issue will help us continue superior service for many years to come. We constantly look to the future to how we can better serve and keep our community safe,” he said. “I am thankful for the support the department and the fire district receives from the community that makes it possible to have the stations, apparatuses, and equipment here to protect us at home. The infrastructure and equipment not only helps protect you and your family but allows us to go home to ours after a call.”The Marthasville Volunteer Fire Department was founded in 1928 and provides protection to 168 square miles, making it the largest protection area by square miles in Warren County.In addition to responding to fires, the department is responsible for responding to vehicle accidents, hazardous materials spills, rescues and life-threatening medical emergencies.Due to the wide variety of emergency needs in the district, firefighters must work hard to gain the knowledge and skills to effectively and consistently handle any emergency, officials said. Continuous training, equipment maintenance, and infrastructure improvements will always remain at the forefront of providing quality fire protection for the community.The fire district also provided examples of how the proposed tax rate would impact a property or business with a market value of $150,000. For a homeowner, the increase would be $79.80; agricultural, $50.40 increase; and commercial, $134.40 increase.Taxes