City staff: Growth makes new fire stations necessary

Erin Neff

Thursday, March 16, 2000 | 11 a.m.

Even though the city of Las Vegas' population has doubled in the past decade, the number of fire stations has remained steady at 10.

As a result, response times are lagging, and the city's top-of-the-line insurance rating -- not to mention lives -- could be in jeopardy.

With those sobering thoughts in mind, the city's staff asked the City Council on Wednesday to support a fire ballot initiative in November to increase property taxes with the hope of funding four new stations and a training center.

"We've reached the point where we've used technology and good operations. We really need new stations now," Deputy City Manager Doug Selby said.

Although the details are still being worked out, the fire stations would need at least $32 million for the capital expenses alone. Additional personnel and operating costs would have to be added.

City Finance Director Mark Vincent said he believes the average homeowner would pay about $30 to $35 more a year in property taxes to fund the initiative.

Residents of a home assessed at $100,000 in the city pay about $1,100 in taxes. Of that, $456 goes to the school district, $230 to the county, $74 to Metro Police, $52 to the state, $34 to the library district and $240 to the city.

Although council members don't want to raise taxes, they believe it's a "bare-bones" proposal most residents can support.

"It's to the point where we have to go out for this," Councilman Michael McDonald said. "We are at the limit now. There's no more room to wiggle."

The capital expenses include $12.7 million for the fire stations; $1.8 million for rescue bay additions; $2.1 million for new trucks; $5.6 million for replacement trucks; $600,000 for equipment and $10.7 million for a training center.

About 96 emergency personnel and 17 support staff positions are also sought.

Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald said residents should support the measure because keeping the city's Class-1 fire safety rating will keep individual insurance rates down.

The fire department shoots for a response time of six minutes. It is currently responding within 7 minutes, 43 seconds -- a number that is rising.

"When we look at some of those statistics ... it gives me great concern," Boggs McDonald said. "I don't want to see us lose that Class-1 rating, or see that jeopardized."

The council's unanimous approval of the item gives the Fire and Rescue Services Department the authorization to proceed with the ballot initiative. The council will get to approve the tax amount and wording of that initiative sometime in April.