Evansville redevelopment leaders preview citywide bonds to fund East Side fire station and parks

At its Sept. 17, 2024 meeting, the Evansville Redevelopment Commission reviewed a proposal from Robert Gunther of the comptroller’s office to issue citywide redevelopment district bonds to fund a new East Side fire station and separate park projects.

"It's a fire station that will improve the timing of making fire calls," Gunther said, describing a roughly 13,000-square-foot facility with an estimated construction cost between $7.5 million and $8 million. He said the city is seeking to take advantage of increased assessed values to issue bonds without increasing tax rates.

Gunther told commissioners the transaction would use citywide redevelopment district bonds — not a standalone public-safety tax — and that state redevelopment statute provisions allow public-safety projects to be funded through redevelopment districts. He said the…