Keizer Fire District Makes Strong Financial Moves (Photo) -02/24/20

Keizer, Oregon.  Keizer Fire District made strong financial moves in its bank financing of their General Obligation Bond Funds which were approved by voters in November of 2015.  The Bond funds are to buy fire trucks, ambulances and equipment.  The approved bond financing was made in two-series issuance of bonds for a total of 20 years.  The first series of bonds were sold in March 2016 to buy emergency equipment such as fire trucks and ambulances for the fire district.  At their regular monthly Board Meeting, Tuesday, KFD Board of Directors approved the bank financing of the second series of bonds in the current strong financial market and increase the value of the bonds, whiles saving taxpayers money in rates, term, and interest.

The rates, term, and interest winning trifecta can be explained as follows…  The property tax rate for the bonds was set at $0.14 cents per thousand for property owners. The refinancing came in at $0.13 cents per thousand as a lower tax rate for property owners.  The 20-year term of the bond was reduced to 16-years of payments instead of 20-years. The interest rate is at a low 2.5% interest.

The perfect storm of market rates, interest, and investor demand for stable investments, provided a startling $1.9 million dollars in interest savings to KFD tax payors over the length of the fire equipment bond funding while yielding $6.3 million instead of $5.9 million dollars in emergency equipment for Keizer Fire. 

Keizer Fire District put the funds to work immediately ordering two more ambulances, a fire truck, and a wildland firefighting vehicle (Brush Truck). The timing of the orders- combined with avoiding 2020 cost increases on equipment, yielded another $80,000 in cost savings. 

Speaking on behalf of the KFD Board of Directors, Board President Chet Patterson expressed his approval of the financial move saying, “It is always a win to make good decisions, save our tax payers money, and get the necessary equipment out there for our fire district to handle emergencies” The Board also recognized David Ulbricht, Director of Advisory Services for Special Districts Association of Oregon. David acted on behalf of KFD as Bond Financing Advisor for the fire district and participated in years of service doing strategic planning with the fire district to meet their funding needs for fire trucks, ambulances, and emergency equipment.