PHOTO COURTESY OF UMATILLA FIRE DISTRICT
Umatilla firefighters should have new equipment, voters decided Tuesday.
The Umatilla Rural Fire Protection District’s proposed bond squeezed past a 3-percent margin in the unofficial results from Tuesday’s election. Voters passed the bond with 319 votes in favor and 302 votes opposed, according to the final unofficial results from the Umatilla County Elections Division.
If the official count backs up the unofficial results, the general obligation bond will bring in about $1.8 million for the rural fire district. The funds will cover new self-contained breathing apparatus units – also known as air packs – that will be lighter and safer for firefighters, as well as replace or repair the city’s aging vehicles.
The bond will be paid off over 15 years and will increase taxes for Umatilla property owners 54 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value, which means an increase of $54 a year for property valued at $100,000.
As of Wednesday, officials were optimistic the vote would be certified and the bond approved.
The Umatilla RFPD is a primarily volunteer organization. Two employees – the fire chief and the Retention and Recruitment Coordinator – are paid, while all remaining positions are staffed by volunteers. For more about the Umatilla Rural Fire Protection District and its bond, visit the district website.
