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Ballot question

Spokane County Fire District 9 Proposition 2: $70 million fire station bonds

On the ballot in
Spokane County Fire Protection District No. 9
Vote
Yes or no
Election
Nov 3, 2026

The question, as printed on the ballot

Proposition No. 2 Spokane County Fire Protection District No. 9 Fire Station and Firefighter Safety Improvements General Obligation Bonds - $70,000,000 The Board of Fire Commissioners of Spokane County Fire Protection District No. 9, Spokane County, Washington, adopted Resolution No. 26-9 concerning bonds to improve, construct and acquire public safety facilities. To meet increased demand for fire, emergency medical, wildfire and rescue response services, and enhance firefighter health and safety, this proposition authorizes the District to renovate, modernize and construct fire stations and facilities and replace a fire station, construct a training/classroom building, and make capital improvements; issue $70,000,000 of general obligation bonds maturing within a maximum of 20 years; and levy annual excess property taxes to repay the bonds, as provided in Resolution No. 26-9. Should this proposition be approved?

A “Yes” vote means

Fire District 9 may issue $70 million in bonds over up to 20 years to renovate and build fire stations and a training building, repaid by a property tax estimated at $0.39 per $1,000.

A “No” vote means

Fire District 9 does not issue the $70 million in fire station and facility bonds or levy the property tax to repay them.

Official plain English statement

Spokane County Fire (District) 9's aging fire stations are outdated and are no longer adequate to meet the evolving public safety needs of the community served throughout the District's 125-square-mile service area. To accommodate growing demand for modern fire and emergency medical services, wildfire response, technical rescue, and hazardous materials response; to enhance firefighter health, safety, and wellness; and to support the District's expanding operations, it is necessary for the District to renovate and improve four existing fire stations, construct a fire station to replace an inadequate and outdated station, construct a new training and classroom building with a public meeting room, renovate and expand the District's maintenance and logistics building, and complete other capital improvements and acquisitions. Proposition 2 authorizes the issuance of up to $70,000,000 of general obligation bonds, to be repaid over 20 years from issuance, and the levy of excess property taxes to repay the bonds. The excess tax levy rate is estimated to be $0.39/$1,000 of assessed valuation (approximately $196/year, or $16.34/month, for a $500,000 residential property).

Sources

The question and plain English statement are copied word for word from official election materials. The Gist does not take a side on ballot questions.