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.

The Journal News' Tax Watch reported that the borrowing plan would have cost taxpayers some $900,000 a year for 26 years, and raised spending by 70 percent in the New Castle Fire District.

The fire district, which has separate taxing authority from the town and the school district, would have seen its annual budget go from $1.3 million to $2.2 million, driving property taxes up, to account for the project’s expense.