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Richmond council puts proposed $120 million fire‑station bond on path to November ballot
Summary
Council adopted a resolution finding the public necessity for fire‑station replacements and introduced an ordinance to place a $120 million general obligation bond measure on the Nov. 3 ballot; staff said the bond would target replacement and seismic upgrades to aging stations and a training facility.
The Richmond City Council voted on July 21 to adopt a resolution determining the necessity for a general obligation bond to fund fire‑station replacements and improvements and to introduce an ordinance that would place a $120 million bond authorization before voters on the November 3, 2026 ballot.
City fire leadership described critical condition issues across multiple facilities. "We have doors that can't fully open or close, foundation settling causing structural cracks, roof leaks, black mold and inadequate bathroom and dormitory conditions," Fire Chief Aaron Osorio told the council, outlining needs at Stations 63, 66 and 67 and at the training center. Chief Osorio said Station 66 is 83 years old, has asbestos tile and insufficient apparatus bay clearances that limit operations; Station 63 shows foundation settlement and is in the wildland‑urban interface.
Staff and the city's municipal advisor explained the ballot step is the first of a two‑step statutory process. Bond counsel and the municipal advisor recommended a $120 million authorization as a ceiling; if voters approve the measure at the 2/3 threshold required for GO bonds, issuance would be phased and debt service would be repaid through a voter‑approved property tax levy, not the general fund. The municipal advisor estimated an average annual tax rate of roughly $22.15 per $100,000 of assessed value under current assumptions, while noting assumptions and structure could change across issuance phases.
Council members asked about alternatives, grant availability and oversight. Staff said few grants exist for deferred‑maintenance fire‑facility replacements and that the city’s larger CIP backlog (more than $1.1 billion in capital needs) makes targeted action necessary to address urgent fire‑facility vulnerabilities.
The council voted to introduce the ordinance and direct staff to return July 28 for a second reading and to submit measure documents to the county by early August if approved at second reading. The action does not itself issue debt; any bond issuance would follow voter approval and subsequent city approvals.
