Coeur d'Alene Fire Department's bond campaign heating up

The Coeur d’Alene Fire Department is ramping up its education campaign on a general obligation bond going to voters in May. 

Firefighters are presenting information to groups, open houses are scheduled and a new website has been created. 

“This bond is an investment in the safety our community,” said Fire Chief Tom Greif.  

The $16.4 million, 10-year bond will go to voters May 20. Funds will go to replace an aging fleet and equipment and remodel or rebuild three stations. 

Greif said all of these things are “directly impacting our ability to provide high-quality emergency medical and fire services.” 

He said firefighters will provide the community with details on how the bond money will be spent "in order to meet our current needs and prepare for the future."

The website at cdafirebond2025.org offers details on all aspects of the bond. It outlines why it is needed, what it will pay for and what it will cost taxpayers. It includes a “tax impact calculator” so homeowners can get an estimate of their share of the bond. 

The estimated average annual cost to the taxpayer on the proposed bond levy is a tax of $16.07 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, per year, based on current conditions, according to the fire department. 

Two open houses are scheduled, April 9 and April 23. Both are at 6 p.m. at Station No. 2 on Ramsey Road. 

The estimated cost to rebuild Station No. 2 and maintain department operations during construction is $6 million, according to the fire department. 

Upgrades are planned for Station No. 1 and an expansion is planned for Station No. 3.

The Coeur d’Alene Fire Department needs to replace eight aging fire trucks and other fleet vehicles at an estimated cost of $10 million.

The department is busy. It responded to 10,591 emergency calls in 2024, which is a 5.7% increase over 2023 and a 35% increase over the last 10 years. 

History indicates Coeur d’Alene residents will support a general obligation bond, which needs a super majority, 66 2/3, to pass when voters have their say May 20.

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. 

If this latest bond fails, "CDAFD will struggle to maintain aging equipment and meet increasing service demands. Fire trucks, ambulances, and other essential apparatus will continue to age, potentially compromising response times and reliability," according to the new website. "The bond is necessary to ensure the department remains fully equipped to protect the community.” 

But Greif is confident that won’t happen. 

A survey in February found most residents would say yes to the bond, and no one has publicly opposed the bond.

Greif said community engagement will be key to the fire department's efforts.

Firefighters gave a presentation last week to the Coeur d’Alene Regional Chamber's executive board, and more presentations are planned.

“Right now, everything has been positive,” he said. “Everybody knows public safety is a big deal in the community.”