Politics & Government

RVC FD: $21M Bond Would Cost Taxpayers $200 Over Five Years

Fire Department makes pitch for bond to rehab firehouses.

The Rockville Centre Fire Department conducted its presentation for a $21 million bond to rehab two of its firehouses at the Village Board meeting on Thursday night, saying it would cost taxpayers $200 over five years if the bond were approved.

Ex-chief Gary Kondor, along with a representative from H2M — an architectural, engineering and planning firm that worked with the department on the proposed project — underscored the deteriorating infrastructure deficiencies at three of the seven company buildings — Hose Co. No. 1 on South Centre Avenue, headquarters at 58  N. Centre Ave. and Eureka Hook, Ladder and Bucket Company No. 1 on Maple Avenue.

RVC FD officials want to close down the station on S. Centre Avenue, merge its volunteers with , then raze the firehouse at 103 Maple Ave. and rebuild it over a five-year span. The $21 million bond would also pay to renovate headquarters, and relocate the fire inspector's office to the firehouse on Maple Avenue. 

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Kondor said four bonds would be used from 2012 to 2015 for the rehabilitation, the most expensive ones being in years 2013 and 2015, when it would be for $11.8 million and $7 million, respectively. Two of the bonds would be paid back over 25 years, said village comptroller Michael Schussheim, while the other two would be paid back over 15 and ten years. The interest rate on those bonds, Schussheim noted, is projected to be 3.5 percent.

Kondor added that the impact on resident's taxes over the five years would be $200.76. 

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Fire Department officials pointed out that RVC residents paid around $69 in their village taxes for its services in 2005,  while residents in surrounding incorporated villages like Lynbrook and Malverne paid $150 to $200 for similar services.  Though the bond is for $21 million,but Schussheim said that is only the principle and the actual total cost would be "$21 million-plus."

The bond will be voted on by residents during the June 21 election. For more information on the project, the costs, and a detailed list of what needs to be repaired, click here.


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