Voters in Forest Grove approve 10-year borrowing option for new fire tender

Courtesy of the Cariboo Regional District:

Voters in the Forest Grove Fire Protection Service Area have voted to borrow funding for a new fire tender over ten-years. With 42 total ballots cast, 34 votes were cast in favour of the proposed extended borrowing term, while 8 were opposed to the proposed borrowing extension.

With this result, the Cariboo Regional District can proceed to borrow up to $600,000 over a ten-year term for a new fire tender for the Forest Grove Fire Department. This will increase the residential tax rate for this service from $117.66 per $100,000 up to $150.04 per $100,000 of assessed improvement values. Changes to property taxation for the service area will take effect starting in 2025, with the truck’s delivery anticipated in that year.

“I am pleased with the result of the referendum for the purchase of a tender fire truck for Forest Grove VFD,” said Board Chair Margo Wagner. “This result has the least impact on taxes for those in the fire protection area.”

The current tender, a 1997 International Fire Tender, is beyond its permitted service life. The truck no longer meets the fire protection standards set by the Fire Underwriters Survey, which informs the costs and discounts of home insurance for being in a fire protection area. Residents should be aware that a second replacement for a fire pumper engine will need to occur sometime between 2026 and 2031.