Fire department bond survey finds broad support; city to consider bond resolution March 4

The Coeur d'Alene Fire Department and outside consultants presented results of a community survey and draft tax-impact estimates on Feb. 18 as the city weighs putting a general obligation bond on the May 20 ballot.

Amy Holly of Portman Square Group, the consultant that ran the survey, told council the firm contacted nearly 15,000 registered voters via text and social channels and received just over 1,000 fully completed responses; she said that a statistically significant sample for the expected May turnout would be about 384 responses, so the response rate gave the city a comfortable baseline.

Holly said respondents expressed strong support for the fire department’s services (more than 80% positive) and for continuing the current level of service (about 94%). When asked about specific capital needs, respondents showed nearly 66% support for remodeling Fire Station 2 and roughly 80% support for replacing aging fire apparatus.

Michael Keith of Zions Public Finance presented preliminary tax-impact numbers for a proposed $16.4 million bond package. Using a working assumption of a 3.21% interest rate and a 10-year maturity, Keith said the total estimated cost (principal plus interest) would be about $19.5 million, which translates to about $16.14 per $100,000 of taxable value annually. He said on an average Coeur d'Alene home assessed at $551,000 (with the Idaho homeowner exemption applied), that equates to roughly $68 per year, or about $5.74 per month.

Keith also noted that an existing safety bond is ending this year; after accounting for taxes that will roll off, the net new tax increase would be about $8.89 per $100,000 of value (approximately $37.94 per year on the average home, or $3.16 per month). He said those numbers would be included in a formal election resolution if council moves forward.

Amy Holly said the poll included about 17.5% of respondents who were undecided after seeing the proposed cost and that the campaign’s next phase would focus on education to move those voters into a supportive position. Holly recommended that any educational communications comply with Idaho's Public Integrity and Elections Act and focus on factual, educational materials rather than advocacy by city staff.

Fire Chief Jeff (last name not specified) and city staff said they will present a bond election resolution for council consideration at the March 4 meeting. No vote on the bond was taken Feb. 18. Council members asked for the raw data and further details about the proposed scope, and staff said they would provide project-level descriptions, fleet-replacement plans and more detailed cost breakdowns before any final vote.