BALLOT TITLE
GRESHAM FIRE FACILITIES GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS
QUESTION: Shall Gresham issue General Obligation Bonds in the amount of $5,775,000 for fire facilities?
If the bonds are approved, they will be payable from taxes on property or property ownership that are not subject to the limits of sections 11 and 11b, Article XI of the Oregon Constitution.
SUMMARY: A "Yes" vote on this measure is a vote to increase taxes.
These bonds would fund the relocation of two fire stations, remodeling or reconstruction of two other fire stations, the costs of borrowing, land acquisition, design, construction, fixtures, furnishings and related costs. Bonds mature in 20 years or less.
The City Hall and Kane Road stations would be relocated. Response time to emergency fire and medical calls in Gresham would improve to a city-wide average of 4.5 minutes. The relocated stations would meet all current standards.
The Pleasant View Dr. (190th) and the 192nd & Halsey fire stations will be remodeled or reconstructed, if necessary, to meet earthquake and Americans with Disabilities Act standards.
The estimated cost is seven cents per $1,000 based on the information available for the 2001-2002 fiscal year. This levy would cost the owner of a home with a tax assessed value of $150,000 about $10.50 in additional property taxes. A projection of the total cost of the bonds, including interest, is $9,952,148 and the average annual revenue is $497,608.
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
GRESHAM FIRE FACILITIES GENERAL
OBLIGATION BONDS
MEASURE 26-19
The City of Gresham proposes issuing General Obligation Bonds in the amount of $5,775,000 for fire facilities. If the bonds are approved, they would be payable from taxes on property or property ownership that are not subject to the $10 rate limit per thousand dollars of real market value as provided by sections 11 and 11b, Article XI of the Oregon Constitution.
These bonds would fund the relocation of two fire stations, the remodeling or reconstruction of two other fire stations, the cost of borrowing, land acquisition, design, construction, fixtures, furnishings and related costs.
The City Hall and Kane Road Fire stations would be relocated. This relocation would help to achieve a response time for emergency fire and medical calls to a city-wide average of 4.5 minutes. These two stations don't currently meet earthquake standards for an "essential services" building and the relocated stations would meet all current standards. The Pleasant View Dr. (190th) and the 192nd & Halsey stations would be remodeled or reconstructed, if necessary, to meet earthquake and Americans with Disabilities Act standards.
The construction cost to relocate, rebuild and remodel the four fire stations is about 5.6 million dollars. The estimated cost for the levy is 7 cents per $1,000 tax assessed value based on the information available for the 2001-2002 fiscal year. This levy would cost the owner of a home with a tax assessed value of $150,000 about $10.50 a year or 88 cents per month in additional property taxes. The bonds would mature in twenty years or less.
Submitted by
Charles Becker
Mayor
No arguments AGAINST this measure were filed.
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
Vote for Ballot Measure 26-19
Ballot Measure 26-19 is a bond measure to improve fire service in the City of Gresham. This measure is a bond that will relocate two fire stations and reconstruct two other stations.
The Gresham Capital Facilities Task Force had identified the fire facilities as needing improvement and reconstruction. This group of citizens and staff worked diligently in identifying areas which need improvement and these facilities are the most in need of improvement and replacement.
The fire facilities in Gresham while adequate are old and have some severe problems. Most stations do not have adequate seismic support and will be unsafe in a large earthquake. When emergency services are most needed, these facilities may be casualties of a major seismic event and unable to respond. The new facilities will have adequate seismic protection and the remaining facilities will be upgraded.
Since the Kane Road and City Hall fire stations were built, Gresham has grown significantly. Our population is distributed differently now than it was several decades ago. By relocating two stations, response time will improve and service will be better in Gresham.
If we do not step up and do maintenance and upgrading of our facilities while we can, then we will have an even greater price later, either in reduced service and response times or much greater cost for improving facilities when they fail.
For an average home of about $150,000, these improvements are about $10.50 per year, or under a dollar a month. This is a small price to pay for upgrading and improving our public safety facilities, which we will need in the future. It is wise to invest now to maintain and to improve our Fire services in Gresham.
(This information furnished by John A. Leuthauser, Yes on Fire & Parks Committee)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Multnomah County, nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument.