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Council directs staff to proceed with ballot‑readiness work for a November 2026 fire‑station bond
Summary
After hearing survey results showing majority support for a $120 million bond to upgrade fire stations, the Richmond City Council directed staff to begin phase-two ballot‑readiness and public information work to place a bond measure on the November 2026 ballot; consultants recommended the bond for capital work and a later parcel tax to fund permanent ALS staffing.
The Richmond City Council voted June 23 to direct staff to begin phase-two ballot readiness and informational work for a proposed bond measure to fund fire‑station upgrades and resiliency improvements, following a consultant presentation summarizing a voter survey that found majority, though soft, support for both a $120 million bond and a parcel tax to fund paramedic services.
Consultants from SCI and the survey team presented results from 800 likely-voter interviews showing roughly 65% initial support for a $120 million bond and 66% for a parcel tax. The analysis found the bond's support more durable when respondents heard both positive and negative considerations, while the parcel tax's support was more sensitive to affordability arguments. Survey respondents rated improving 911 response times and rehabilitating unsafe firefighter housing among the highest priorities.
Consultants recommended placing a bond on the November 2026 ballot to fund station reconstruction, seismic and code upgrades, firefighter housing improvements and energy-efficiency measures, and to pursue a parcel tax at a later date to fund sustained ALS paramedic staffing. Chief Osario and staff said the recommended near-term approach would pair station upgrades with a squad-model interim deployment while long-term funding is pursued.
Council members asked detailed budget and implementation questions, including how squads and paramedic staffing would be funded if the bond passes but a subsequent parcel tax does not. Staff said they would return with further detail on budget impacts, position-control adjustments and the final ballot text; councilors also requested briefings for members about what city staff can do as informational outreach versus advocacy.
Council voted to proceed with phase-two planning and public information. The motion passed with all present council members voting yes; Council Member Brown was absent.
