For Immediate Release:
May 9, 2023
Spokane County Fire District #10 Receives $423,864 Local Direct Investment towards Wildland Urban Interface Vehicle Financing
Spokane County, WA The Spokane County Treasurer’s Office announced today the issuance of $423,864 in Local Direct Investment financing towards the purchase of a Rosenbauer Timberwolf urban interface firefighting vehicle by Spokane County Fire District #10. The financing will be re-paid over a five-year term utilizing Fire District property tax revenue.
The Spokane County Treasurer’s Office manages the nearly $1.7 billion Spokane Public Investment Fund which invests the operating funds of area public entities in a fixed income portfolio. Investment income is distributed monthly, supporting public budgets without raising taxes or fees. Since 2019, the Spokane Public Investment Fund has returned over $80 million to local governments.
The Local Direct Investment program is available to Spokane County and other districts where the County Treasurer serves as ex-officio treasurer. Offered at competitive interest rates, local direct investments allow local governments a short-term financing solution that brings public projects to completion at a cost savings to taxpayers.
“The volunteer and career staff at Spokane County’s Fire Districts work around the clock to protect our communities, especially with the rise of wildfire activity” Said Michael Baumgartner, the Treasurer of Spokane County “By financing through the Spokane Public Investment Fund, Spokane County Fire District #10 will soon deploy a new apparatus that will play an integral role in emergency response.”
Spokane County Fire District #10 was originally founded in 1949 and provides EMS, fire, and educational services to the West Plains. The district manages five stations and operates thirty pieces of apparatus. Both volunteer and career firefighters staff the Fire District’s boundaries, responding to 1,400 calls for service each year.
“The apparatus will primarily serve on the West Plains as a front-line Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) truck, the most significant risk in Spokane County. In the winter, the truck will improve firefighter safety while responding in an apparatus with all-wheel drive during inclement weather. This funding opportunity allows the district to mitigate several important firefighter safety initiatives while keeping our fleet updated.” added Chief Ken Johnson, Spokane County Fire District #10
The Spokane County Treasurer’s Office collects, safeguards, and invests public funds on behalf of Spokane County and over eighty regional government entities. Past Local Direct Investments have included towards the TREX project at Spokane International Airport, emergency response equipment financing, and bridge financing to county roads projects at Bigelow Gulch.
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