City of East Dubuque Purchases Two New Fire Vehicles Without Raising Property Taxes

An increase in property taxes approved by East Dubuque residents last year to fund the purchase of two new fire department vehicles will not be necessary. East Dubuque City Council members on Monday approved the purchase of a used rescue pumper truck for $424,000— far below what officials were expecting to pay for a similar, new model. In April 2023, East Dubuque voters approved a measure allowing the city to issue up to $1.5 million in bonds to buy two new firetrucks. However, City Manager Bob Seitz said that when the fire department sought bids for the two new vehicles, prices came in over $2 million. Instead, Seitz said the fire department found two vehicles to purchase for a significantly lower price: a new 2024 truck previously used for demonstration that cost the city $650,000 and the 2011 rescue pumper truck whose purchase the council approved Monday.