Why does the Fire District need three new fire trucks?
The Fire District plans ahead for major equipment purchases because it can take up to five years for delivery of a new truck. Fire trucks are also becoming more expensive each year. Our fleet is aging and expensive to fix. Waiting for parts can put a truck out of service for months. If parts are no longer available, the truck is not only out of service but loses all its value.

Why buy all three trucks now instead of replacing them one at a time?
Fire trucks are also becoming more expensive each year. Purchasing all three allows us to secure pricing now, coordinate the replacement schedule and avoid having to ask voters to approve separate purchases at different times. Financing also allows the cost to be spread over a longer period rather than requiring residents to pay for the entire investment at once. The goal is to plan responsibly, lock in today’s pricing and help manage the impact on taxpayers over time.

Are all three trucks needed immediately?
The proposed purchases are part of a long-term replacement plan. Fire apparatus has a long service life, and the District needs to plan years in advance to ensure that reliable equipment is available when residents need it. The goal is not simply to add trucks to the fleet. It is to replace aging equipment in a planned, financially responsible way and avoid being forced into emergency or poorly timed purchases later.

Why does the referendum involve financing?
Major fire apparatus purchases are significant investments. Financing allows the District to spread the cost over multiple years rather than requiring the entire cost to be funded upfront. This approach is intended to make the financial impact more manageable for residents while allowing the District to secure the equipment and pricing it needs now.

How will the referendum affect my property taxes?
The amount each homeowner pays is based largely on the assessed value of the property. As a result, the impact will vary from one property to another. Projected tax increases over time, based on an average home price of $500,000, can be found here.

Why can’t the Fire District just use its existing budget to buy the trucks?
The proposed trucks represent a significant capital investment beyond the District’s normal operating expenses. The referendum provides a mechanism for residents to consider and authorize the proposed financing for these major capital purchases.

Why not wait until the trucks are actually needed?
Waiting until a truck is no longer usable would leave the District with very little flexibility. Because new apparatus can take years to arrive, the District must plan replacements well before an existing truck reaches the end of its useful service life. Advance planning helps ensure that the District has reliable equipment available to respond to emergencies without a gap between retiring an old truck and receiving its replacement.

How does the Fire District determine when a truck needs to be replaced?
The District considers factors such as the age and condition of the apparatus, maintenance history, reliability, mileage or operating hours, repair costs, manufacturer recommendations and the role the vehicle plays in the District’s response capabilities. Because replacement trucks can take several years to order and build, planning begins well before an existing vehicle reaches the end of its useful life.

Will the Fire Department need to expand its facilities to accommodate the new truck?
The Fire Department will need to reconfigure its existing facilities to accommodate the larger truck. This will be considered as part of the department’s broader facility planning, rather than as a separate project solely for the new truck. Our facilities are aging and have other needs that must be addressed, so we will look at these needs together to determine the best overall approach.

Does the Fire Department receive fee income when it responds to calls in other municipalities?
No. The Fire Department does not charge other municipalities for responding to fire calls, and we do not receive fee income when we provide mutual aid. Likewise, other municipalities do not charge us when their fire departments respond to calls in our community. Mutual aid is a reciprocal partnership among neighboring fire departments.

Is staffing included in the November referendum?
At our September Town Hall, we explained that the proposed referendum included staffing needs. After further legal review, the District learned that staffing-related funding cannot be submitted as part of this November referendum. The November referendum is therefore limited to the items that can legally be presented to voters at this time. As a result, the staffing portion will be considered through a separate process early next year. We recognize that this is a change from what we previously communicated and want to be transparent about the change.