2022 Bond Renewal

Frequently Asked Questions

January 31, 2022

Shall Nixa Fire Protection District issue its general obligation bonds in the amount of $6,400,000 for the purpose of constructing, furnishing and equipping a new fire station; renovating, improving and repairing existing fire stations; and acquiring fire trucks, vehicles and other firefighting and emergency apparatus and equipment?

1. What will the money that this bond issue creates be used for?

There are 3 areas of attention that will be addressed by this proposed $6.4 million initiative.

i.     Construction of a brand new Fire Station #1 at 710 N. McCroskey Street on a 1.09 acre lot that was purchased by the district in December 2021. Cost of this build will include furniture, fixtures, and equipment necessary to operate the new fire station.

ii.     Renovation of the current Fire Station #1 located at 711 N. Main Street to serve as a fire training center with improved public meeting spaces and general repairs and upgrades. Upgrades and repairs to other existing fire stations as funds allow.                                                         

iii.     Purchase of fire district apparatus and equipment starting with an immediate purchase of one new fire engine. Other purchases determined as funds allow. 

2. What is a bond issue?
1. A bond issue, as it applies to the fire district, places a question before the voters as a ballot measure, asking voters to approve additional proposed spending for facilities and apparatus. 

3. Can the bond money be spent on personnel, salaries, or benefits for the employees?
1. No. State law only allows bond money to be spent on facilities, land, apparatus, and equipment, not people. 

4. When was the last bond issue passed for the fire district?
1. The last bond issue passed for the fire district was on November 4^th, 2014. With funds from the 2014 bond, the district constructed a new fire station at 1295 W. Guin Rd (Station 5) and purchased a new Ladder Truck and associated equipment. Both projects were COMPLETED AS PROMISED!

                                                             i.      The 2014 bond was approved to be paid back over a 10 year period. The Debt Service Levy was assessed beginning in 2015 and is set to run through 2024.

                                                           ii.      Approval of the current $6.4 million initiative renews or extends the debt service levy which is currently set at and estimated to remain unchanged at $0.0790 per one hundred dollars assessed valuation of real and personal property. Repayment of this bond initiative is projected to be over a 15 year period. 

5. Why is the Fire District asking for a renewal of the bond now?
1. Costs of the proposed projects have increased significantly in recent years. By approving the initiative now, we hope to save at least two years of anticipated price increases and get started on the projects now as opposed to later. 

6. What is the cost of a new fire truck "today” as opposed to years past?
1. The fire engine immediately planned will replace a 10 year old unit allowing it to become our permanent "reserve” apparatus. That unit was purchased for just under $400,000 and will serve as a reserve unit for another 10+ years. The new engine is anticipated to cost between $550,000 - $600,000 with very minimal changes from the 10 year old unit.

                                                             i.      Technology advancements, improved national and safety standards and regulations, rising equipment and supply costs, and supply issues have and will continue to drive up these costs.

2. Our current reserve engines are 22 years old and have become outdated, difficult to obtain parts and service for, and are at the end of their lifespan. They will become surplus property and moved out of the fleet.   

7. Why do you need to replace Fire Station #1?
1. There are a few reasons for replacing the current Fire Station #1.

                                                             i.      The building is 35 years old and was built at a time when the department, community, fire apparatus, and response needs were much smaller.

1.      The building is showing its age and is in need of a significant updating and/or remodel in the coming years.

2.      A minor interior remodel in 2010 helped accommodate a growing workforce in the station and got us another 12 years of use.

                                                           ii.      We also identified the need for a fire training facility to accommodate classes within the district for our personnel due to having more personnel (= more training that needs to be conducted), increased call volume (=more difficult to send personnel out of district for training), and pandemic related issues (training was shut down across the state) making it harder to achieve required training hours each month. 

                                                         iii.      Significant remodel and renovation is extremely difficult while also maintaining a fully functional fire station in the busiest area of our district. 

8. Will my taxes increase as a result of this bond issue?
1. This bond issue is renewing a previous bond issue approved in 2014. The current rate for repayment of those bonds is set and expected to remain at $0.0790 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation of real and personal property. This initiative extends repayment of the new bonds for 15 years. The debt service levy is expected to remain at the same rate and thus create NO TAX INCREASE!   

9. How big is the Nixa Fire Protection District?
1. The fire district covers approximately 53 square miles including the City of Nixa and immediate surrounding area of Christian and Stone Counties. Our borders are roughly the James River on the north and west of the district, the Finley River on the south, and Cheyenne Road on the east. 

10. How busy is the Nixa Fire Protection District?

In 2021 our Operations responded to almost 4100 emergency and non-emergency incidents throughout the community. Monthly this is about 340-350 incidents.