News and Events
The Apache Junction Fire District Announces
Implementation of General Obligation Bond Funding

On September 12th, 2006 citizens overwhelmingly approved the sale of General Obligation Bonds in the amount of $9,500,000 to benefit the capital projects needs of the Apache Junction Fire District. This successful election culminated a months-long effort of fire district staff as well as the tremendous work of a Citizen’s Bond Committee consisting of members of the community-at-large that gave of their time and many varied talents as they completed a comprehensive study and review of the proposed bond.The passage of the fire bond will provide the capital facilities and equipment necessary to advance the community’s fire, rescue and emergency medical response capabilities. Citizen’s can expect to see significant improvement in the delivery of emergency services within the City of Apache Junction, Gold Canyon, and surrounding county areas upon completion of the bond funded projects.

Savings Already Realized

The issuance and sale of these bonds has begun as the fire district moves forward with several of the projects identified in the bond summary. These projects include; $2.6 million for new facilities; $1.7 million for new fire apparatus; $1.3 million for a new fire training campus; and $3.9 million in capital debt refinance.As the process has moved forward a significant savings has already been realized to taxpayers as the projected costs at election time have been reduced through lower interest rates achieved. The early projected initial tax rate for the bond was estimated at .23 cents per $100 of secondary assessed valuation. The actual initial tax rate will be at .19 cents. This was the result of being able to take advantage of the lower average interest rate over the life of the loan of 4.87% verses the original estimate of 6%. The early average tax rate estimate of .16 cents over the life of the loan was reduced to .14 cents as well. These changes will allow an overall savings of $1.7 million in interest over the life of the loan.

What this Means to the Average Home Owner

A home with a Full Cash Value of $200,000 at the assessment ratio of 10.0%, set by Pinal County, would have a Secondary Assessed Valuation of $20,000. With the Average Secondary Tax Rate for the bond at .14 cents per $100, a home owner will pay an additional $28.00 annually, or $2.33 per month for these new emergency service and response resources. The Governing Board of the Fire District, along with all of its employees hold the confidence and trust placed in us through passage of this fire bond in the highest regard, and we are committed to the delivery of highly effective and efficient emergency services that meet the needs of our growing community. The Apache Junction Fire District is community owned and operated for the sole benefit of the citizens we serve. We encourage, value and respect citizen input and participation.

Thank you again for your support and confidence.

Sincerely,

John A. Flynn, Fire Chief

PRESS RELEASE

In a letter dated August 22, 2005, the Insurance Services Office (ISO), the agency responsible for grading fire departments nationwide for the purpose of underwriting and calculating fire insurance premiums for residential, commercial and industrial properties designated the Apache Junction Fire District (AJFD) a grading of Public Protection Class 3. The ISO grades fire departments on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the highest rating attainable and 10 representing a community with no available fire protection.

The ISO Class 3 grading applies fire district wide, including those areas without fire hydrants, as AJFD personnel demonstrated their skill and the organization’s capability of delivering required fire flows through the use of fire tanker water shuttle operations. Fire flow is the amount of water in gallons per minute (GPM) required for fire suppression operations. The required fire flow is dependent upon the size of the community’s commercial buildings and varies with each separate structure.

The AJFD is one of a handful of ISO Class 3 fire departments in the nation to achieve this rating community wide, dependent upon the ability to deliver required fire flows through performance of a fire tanker water shuttle operation. Water supply (water infrastructure and fire hydrant system) accounts for 40% of the overall ISO grading criteria. Approximately half of the built upon territory within the fire district is currently without adequate water system infrastructure. The AJFD, through a multi-year planning and implementation process, was able to compensate for the lack of water system infrastructure.

The ISO Class 3 rating will have an effective date of October 1, 2005. The AJFD was previously an ISO Public Protection Class 4.

The AJFD is Arizona’s first and only fire district to be awarded accredited status by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. The AJFD, along with five other municipal fire departments are the only accredited fire service agencies in Arizona. Accredited status is a benchmark for service delivery excellence.

The designation as an ISO Public Protection Class 3 rated fire department and accredited status is a tribute to the dedication and professionalism of the 80 employees who makeup the AJFD, and the five elected officials who provide the guidance and resources necessary to ensure the community is protected.