Fire district board chair urges yes vote on Prop 407

Proposition 407 is a responsible and vital capital bond measure for the North County Fire & Medical District.

As our community has grown to nearly 70,000 residents, so have the demands on our emergency response system. This bond will fund the construction and renovation of fire stations and the purchase of updated firefighting and medical equipment — critical upgrades that will help reduce response times and improve health outcomes.

Supporting Prop 407 means investing directly in public safety and ensuring our first responders have the modern tools they need to serve Peoria, Sun City West and Surprise effectively. Upgraded infrastructure also helps reduce long-term operational costs and improve energy efficiency, making the most of every taxpayer dollar.

As noted by the Government Finance Officers Association, municipal bonds are a central, best-practice tool for financing public infrastructure. Bonds should fund capital projects with long-term value — not cover operational costs — and allow communities to acquire essential assets efficiently and responsibly.

In our district, bond approval would also help free up capital funds currently tied up for years due to equipment delivery delays.

Prop 407 is a smart investment in safety, reliability and the future of our community. Please consider voting yes on Nov. 4.

Editor’s note: Richard Bookie chairs the North County Fire & Medical District Governing Board. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.