Statement For · Tom Carroll
statement likely AICommittee: Steve Brooks
Vote Yes on Proposition 1 to keep our growing community safe. Lacey and its surrounding unincorporated communities are growing as families build their lives and raise their children here. With growth comes responsibility: when a child cannot breathe, a loved one suffers a heart attack, or a home catches fire, help must come quickly across our community. Lacey Fire District 3 now responds to more than 18,000 emergencies each year, the highest in Thurston County. Calls have increased 43% in the last ten years, yet only one of five fire stations is located north of I-5. An earthquake or other disaster could damage freeway access and leave a large part of our community isolated. Proposition 1 will build a new station north of I-5 and give firefighters and paramedics the facilities, equipment, and supplies they need to be ready when families call for help. It will also replace Station 32’s outdated 1970s apparatus bay and double-wide living quarters with a permanent station positioned to improve response times in the southeast area of the district. Bond funds are legally dedicated to these capital projects and cannot be used for salaries or routine operations. For a home assessed at $500,000, the estimated cost is about $8 to $11 per month. Building now will avoid higher construction costs later. This measure is about more than buildings. It’s about protecting the people we love, supporting the first responders who answer every call, and making sure our entire district remains safe for generations to come.