A fire station that closed in 2013 is set to reopen by Jan. 1, thanks to an improving economy, better-than-expected performance of employee retirement investments and a city fee designed to help pay for fire protection, county officials said Tuesday.
Contra Costa Fire Station 87, on West Leland Road near John Henry Johnson Park and the Delta View Golf Course, closed in July 2013 amid fire budget problems stemming from a downfall in property tax revenues.
Contra Costa Fire District Chief Jeff Carman told the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors that the general economic recovery has helped revive property values, which in turn drives up property tax revenue, a major source of funding for the district. He also credited what he said has been a better-than expected performance of employee investments through the Contra Costa County Employees’ Retirement Association.
Station 87 had first opened in 2000, serving western Pittsburg and parts of Bay Point. It closed after Measure Q, a parcel tax measure on the November 2012 ballot, was defeated by voters.
Also getting credit for helping Station 87 reopen is a new Community Facilities District through which the city of Pittsburg will collect a fee for every new structure built in the city. The money will pay for fire protection and other emergency services. Pittsburg spokeswoman Jill Hecht said it’s too early to know how much money these building fees will bring in.