Elsberry Fire’s Next Step: Chief Talks Taxes, Trucks and the Plan Behind Prop F
ELSBERRY, Mo. — Elsberry Fire Protection District is asking voters for $2.5 million, but Chief David Killian says the district trimmed its request to focus on a manageable list of needs.
Those needs include aging trucks, crowded firehouses and better access to water outside town. The proposal could also free approximately $70,000 annually in the district’s operating budget by paying off two financed trucks.
Lincoln CountyWatch sat down with Killian to discuss Proposition F ahead of the November 3 election—what it would purchase, what it would cost taxpayers and what happens if voters reject it.
“We’ve cut it down to what we feel is a more manageable figure,” Killian said.
The chief described priorities rather than a promise to accomplish every project. Equipment, firehouse additions and water access lead the list. Purchasing land for a possible third station would depend on money remaining.
Proposition F would authorize a $2.5 million general obligation bond. Killian described a 20-year repayment period, with an estimated additional property tax levy of approximately 25 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.
The final rate could fluctuate depending on interest rates when the bonds are sold. Assessed valuation is the taxable value used to calculate a property’s bill, rather than its full market value.
Killian directly clarified during the interview that the bond would come with a tax increase.
Part of the proposal would pay off debt on two trucks the district already owns. Killian estimated that eliminating those payments would free approximately $70,000 annually in an operating budget of roughly $180,000.
The bond money itself would pay for capital expenses. Removing existing truck payments would give the district more flexibility within its operating funds.
Killian said Elsberry became a tax-supported district in 1999 and has operated without a voter-approved increase to its operating tax rate since then. Rising property values have brought additional revenue, but maintenance, equipment and insurance costs have also increased.
“We’re maintaining,” he said. “But with the cost of maintaining the equipment and insurance and stuff … we’re starting to cut it close.”
The district wants to add bays at both firehouses, replace an aging tanker and acquire a backup rescue boat.
Another priority is installing dry hydrants at lakes and ponds throughout the district. Those connections would give firefighters additional places to obtain water in areas outside town.
Killian said improving access to water could also help the district’s fire-protection rating, which insurers may consider when setting premiums. He did not provide a specific estimate of insurance savings.
The proposed second boat would serve as a backup during water rescues, including situations in which firefighters themselves need assistance.
Killian said the department handles approximately a dozen river or water rescues in a typical year. Many involve disabled boats whose occupants cannot get back to shore.
If funding allows, the district would also explore land for a third station. No location has been selected. Killian said the district would first need to examine call volume, population and where another station would provide the most benefit.
Behind the equipment and financial figures is a department averaging approximately 15 volunteers.
Killian joined in 2004 as a volunteer firefighter and became chief approximately four years ago. He said the department handled roughly 450 calls last year, about 50 more than the previous year, and is on a similar pace this year.
More than half are medical calls. Firefighters also respond to outdoor fires, water rescues and other emergencies across the largely agricultural and river community.
Volunteers answer those calls around jobs, dinners and family occasions.
“It’s a lot of commitment to be a volunteer,” Killian said. “You have to have a heart to want to serve and to be part of it.”
Grants have helped the district purchase protective gear, breathing equipment and a new tanker at its other station. The bond proposal would address additional equipment and facility needs.
Killian also made clear that a failed vote would not stop the department from answering calls.
“We’re still going to be there,” he said. “We’re still going to respond to the calls.”
The district would continue operating with its available resources and providing the best service it can, he said.
Residents with questions can contact the district through its Facebook page or reach out to Killian directly. He said he is willing to discuss the proposal in person or by phone, including with people who have concerns.
“Whether it’s good, positive or negative,” he said, “we can sit down and talk about it.”
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Sources
Lincoln CountyWatch interview with Elsberry Fire Protection District Chief David Killian.
Missouri Secretary of State’s 2026 election calendar.
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