05/11/2026
We wanted to thank OurTown Santiam for correcting their errors regarding the Bond. They initially wrote an incorrect statement regarding what the bond would cost the voter, listing a number that was much higher than the truth. After recognizing their mistake, they corrected it, and published the article below:
‘The Sublimity Rural Fire Protection District has proposed a $2.2 million bond to fund new vehicles and equipment as its existing fleet ages out.
Measure 24-523 on the May 19 ballot will ask voters to approve a 15-year bond at an estimated rate of $0.30 per $1,000 of assessed property value. This would equate to $60 annually for a home assessed at $200,000.
The bond would replace an existing bond of $0.28 per $1,000 of assessed value approved by voters in 2012, which expires later this year. The expiring bond raised $950,000 to replace two older fire engines.
Many of the district’s current vehicles are near or beyond their recommended service lives, according to an explanatory s tatement from the district. This includes a 15-year-old primary fire engine, a 25-year-old secondary fire engine, a 24-year-old water tender, and an 18-year-old rescue vehicle.
The bond would allow the district to replace these vehicles and to acquire other equipment related to fire suppression, emergency medical response and rescue operations. If the bond does not pass, the district would continue to rely on and maintain older vehicles and would need alternative funding for potential replacements.
The district covers a 44-square-mile area around Sublimity that includes roughly 4,000 residents, and also supports neighboring districts.’
Source: https://ourtownsantiam.com/news/civics/sublimity-rfpd-seeks-bond-to-replace-older-emergency-vehicles/
Thank you for your commitment to accuracy in your reporting!