General obligation bond process advances

COEUR d'ALENE — A general obligation bond to fund improvements for the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department could go to voters in May 2025. 

The Coeur d’Alene City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a request from Fire Chief Tom Greif to seek a contract with a municipal advisory firm to begin planning for the bond. 

“There’s no question we need to protect the public,” said Councilwoman Christie Wood. 

Greif said the department is looking at numerous needs that include a new fire engine, ladder truck, command vehicles, updating and expansion of several stations, self-contained breathing apparatuses and upgrading station alert systems. 

He said there is about a three-year buildout on fire engines.

"Planning ahead is imperative," he said.

Greif said the department doesn’t have a backup ladder truck and one backup pumper engine. 

“We do need reliable apparatus in that backup position,” Greif said. 

The cost for a municipal advisory firm is estimated at $50,000, and it would be selected through a Request for Qualifications process. It will be paid through the city’s Debt Service Fund. 

The firm that is hired will work with the department to come up with a detailed list of needs, costs, a proposed bond amount and the impact to taxpayers. 

The bond would likely be in the millions. 

The estimated 2025 cost of a pumper engine is $1.2 million. A ladder truck is $2.3 million, and command vehicles are $950,000.   

Once that is done, the firm would assist with public outreach, engagement and help with creation of a financial team that could include bond counsel, underwriters and trustees. 

The City Council would later consider the bond and sending it on for a public vote. 

Greif said the ultimate goal is to be transparent and for people to go to the polls and base their decision on facts. 

In the past, the firefighters’ union handled the bond campaign process, but Greif said they want to go in a different direction.

He said the department has a proven track record of showing justification for its needs and spending money the way it said it would.

The city ran its first public safety general obligation bond for $7 million in 2005, and it received 74% approval.  

In 2015, 85% of Coeur d’Alene voters supported a $6 million, 10-year public safety bond to fund capital expenditures for the police and fire departments. It replaced the 10-year bond approved by voters in 2005 and ends in August 2025. 

A new GO bond would likely be for another 10 years.

“We have a really good resume here in Coeur d’Alene,” Greif said. 

Greif said the Caldwell Fire Department hired a municipal advisory firm last fall for its bond, which narrowly passed. 

Wood asked if police needs might also be addressed in the bond, and Greif said they could. He said the process is fluid and items can be added or subtracted. 

“I’m not suggesting a fire-only GO bond by any means,” he said. 

Wood asked that as they move forward on the bond, “Can we count on the support of the union?” 

Greif said he didn’t want to define the union's level of support based on financial contributions. 

“I believe they're going to be an important player in this, and they have to be involved to be successful,” he said.