Voters reject $2 million fire district bond issue
<p>Carla Skinner of Post Falls directs a voter to place his vote into the secure ballot box at the Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Station #3 in Post Falls on Tuesday. Voting at the polls will float a $2 million bond to Kootenai County patrons to pay for completing a training facility and remodeling the administration building along Seltice Avenue between Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene.</p>
POST FALLS - Voters in the Kootenai County Fire and Rescue district on Tuesday rejected a $2 million bond that would have paid for completing a training facility, a remodel of the administration building and equipment and station upgrades.
There were 167 votes against the proposal and 165 for it. Two-thirds approval was needed for it to pass.
KCFR serves Post Falls, Stateline, Dalton Gardens, Fernan, Huetter and Wolf Lodge.
KCFR Chief Ron Sampert said he was surprised at the vote, but understands residents want tax relief in a tough economy.
"I felt really good about it until (Tuesday)," he said. "I felt there was support in the community for it. I had very little negative feedback from all of the presentations I made and the people I talked to."
Residents' taxes wouldn't have increased had the bond passed because an existing bond for the same amount to construct two stations will be paid off in September. However, since it failed, the owner of a $250,000 home will pay about $18 per year less than they are now.
"When we set out to do this, we simply had the idea that we could do a ton of things for the district and not cost folks a lot more money and it wouldn't raise taxes," Sampert said. "But folks said, 'We don't want to continue paying,' and we're OK with that.
"You can't blame folks for not wanting to be taxed further. We understand that the economic situation in the county is not conducive for this."
Sampert said he wonders if some in support of the proposal or who were on the fence didn't vote and most of those against it did.
Sampert said the district will continue a strong relationship with its patrons.
"Our constituents are still the best," he said. "We wanted to know how they felt about it and they have spoken. We strive to do what is in the best interest of the people we serve and we will continue to do just that. We're not going to get hung up on a bond levy."
Sampert said the district's commissioners will discuss what it's next move may be on Monday night. The board is also expected to approve a bid for the five-story training tower, which was not part of the bond and money has been set aside. Construction on that project, estimated to cost between $1 million and $1.2 million, could start later this month.
"I don't know if they'll do anything (with another proposal) in the very near future," Sampert said. "We'll take what the voters have told us and figure out a way to do what they wish."
The cost to complete the training grounds next to the administration building on Seltice Way next to the National Guard armory and the administration building remodel would have each been around $1 million.