PFD placing 6-year, $7.64 million capital bond on primary ballot
Published 1:30 am Friday, April 3, 2026
The Board of Commissioners for the Poulsbo Fire Department has approved a resolution to place a six-year, $7.64 million capital bond measure on the Aug. 4 primary election ballot to provide funding for improvements to the department’s facilities, apparatus, and emergency response equipment.
This proposal follows a recommendation from the citizens’ Strategic Advisory Board and is part of the department’s long-term Capital Facilities Plan, which outlines both the maintenance of existing resources and the investments needed to keep pace with community growth, a news release says.
The bond, which requires 60% approval to pass, is limited to projects identified as immediate priorities. These include expanding the capacity of the apparatus bay and fleet maintenance facility at Station 71 on 10th Avenue NE, replacing the department’s self-contained breathing apparatus as they reach the end of service life, replacing two medic units, and replacing a fire engine and a marine response unit, both of which are more than 30 years old.
If approved, the bond would provide a total of $7.64 million over six years. At an estimated rate of $0.18 per $1,000 of assessed value, the cost to the average North Kitsap home, currently valued at $528,283, would be $95.09 per year, or $7.92 per month, per the release.
As a fire district, PFD does not receive ongoing funding from the City of Poulsbo or Kitsap County. The department says its financial projections show that existing fire and EMS levies, which provide the majority of funding for daily operations, are increasingly constrained. These levies primarily support personnel, emergency response services, and ongoing operational costs.
“As the community continues to grow, demand for service and operational costs have increased, while levy revenues—based on assessed property values—have flattened and are projected to decrease in the coming years. To help address this challenge and reduce the burden on current taxpayers, the department is also actively pursuing growth impact fees on new development within the City of Poulsbo and unincorporated Kitsap County. These fees are intended to ensure that new development contributes to the infrastructure and equipment needed to serve a growing population. The proposed capital bond reflects these anticipated contributions, with the project costs related to growth expected to be offset by revenue from new development rather than existing taxpayers,” the release says. “By separating capital investments from operational funding, the proposed bond is intended to help preserve the department’s ability to maintain current service levels while addressing immediate infrastructure and equipment needs in a financially sustainable manner.”
Additional information regarding the capital bond is available at poulsbofire.org/capitalbond. The department will be hosting a series of virtual meetings regarding the bond beginning in June.
