You decide on fire district bond

THE DETAILS emerging from the proposed bond for Gig Harbor Fire District 5’s capital improvements are intriguing. If voters approve the 10-year, $9.5 million bond this August, the fire department will move forward with plans to build a state-of-the-art training center.

The question is, can taxpayers handle more money out of their pockets?

This type of a request is much different than the levy lid lift propositions that Fire District 16 put before voters three times in the past two years. The Key Peninsula district needed to supplement its own budget due to increased costs and equipment. But voters, possibly due to a disdain for the board of commissioners, rejected the propositions all three times.

Gig Harbor Fire is seeking capital improvement funds for the first time since 1986. And Board Chair Scott Casebolt said there isn’t a better time than now.

Casebolt argues that the competitive bidding process in such tight economic conditions will keep construction costs low, because companies will want to put themselves in the best position to win the job.

The training center also could become a regional hub. It would be the best one in the state, and it likely would draw firefighters from other districts for specialized instruction.

There’s little doubt that it would be a great addition to the community.

But can you afford it? Will you see direct benefits? Is it justifiable when some are struggling to put food on the table?

Ultimately, Gig Harbor voters will decide.