Wood Dale, IL, Fire Protection District firefighters and officers are hoping the third time is the charm to earn taxpayers’ votes for a tax increase to buy new apparatus and keep stations open, according to an article published by the Daily Herald.

The newspaper reported the district looking for approval of a request that would generate $1 million annually in additional tax revenue, the newspaper reported.

District officials say the tax hike would put the community on firmer financial footing and allow it to replace an aging fire fleet. It would also help keep open two station that might have to close due to financial concerns.

Wood Dale Fire District has tried to boost taxes rates for more income twice before and has been unsuccessful, the newspaper reported. In November, a similar proposal was rejected by 56 percent of the voters, according to the paper.

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According to a report from Paso Robles Daily News, CAL FIRE’s Station 30 construction has been completed after 2½ years of work, and have received approval for occupancy. The previous fire station was decommissioned on September 3, 2018, after serving CAL FIRE and the San Luis Obispo County Fire Department (SLOCFD) for 60 years.

As of Saturday, March 20, CAL FIRE members officially moved into the new facility, which is located at 2510 Ramada Drive. CAL FIRE and SLOCFD units now responding out of Station 30 will serve the rural Paso Robles area as well as provide automatic aid to Paso City and Templeton CSD.

A formal ribbon cutting will take place in the coming weeks.

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According to a report from PortCityDaily, New Hanover County, North Carolina, is expected to save more than $8 million on interest fees in next few years after the county’s finance department refunded bonds.

County Manager Chris Coudriet said that his staff regularly watches over current interest costs that could reduce debt. Most recently, the county took advantage of historically low rates, taking out a loan for the new Ogden Fire Station and Pine Valley Library.

The total net present value savings will top $8.7 million by the end of the debts’ existence. Coudriet noted that, by reducing expenses, the county may keep taxes and fees down.

The county refunded nearly 15 percent of outstanding debt from a bank loan it took out in 2018 for the construction of the library and fire station. The refunding produced $1,083,201 in net present value savings and will decrease payments by about $97,000 annually.

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Repairs have started at Katy Fire Department’s Fire Station One after water leaked into the building causing mold and other concerns, reports Katy Times.

The construction is being paid for from the city’s recently-established Capital Improvement fund. Water leaks in the building have been an ongoing issue since the 38-year-old building was built.

According to city documents, the city had the building analyzed and brought in engineers and contractors to assess its condition. Eventually, the city decided to repair the building rather than replace it.

Work in the first phase of the repair is expected to be completed the last week of May.

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The Paris Fire Department has welcomed a 2018 demo fire truck that will save the city approximately $200,000 as opposed to ordering a new model, reports The Prairie Press.

It is replacing an engine that has been in service since 1999. The new truck carries a 1,000-gallon water tank and has 1.500-gallon per minute pump.

All three duty shifts will need to train on the vehicle so it will not be in service for another month. The local department is responsible for lining the hose compartment with hose, installing extrication tools, the Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus air bottles and assorted other items. The rest of the equipment going onto the truck is already part of the department’s inventory and will not require additional purchases.

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