Fire District Bond Approved; Westhampton Beach Will Have New Firehouse

Update: Voters approved a $15 million bond for a new Westhampton Beach Fire house on Tuesday in a 286-156 vote. 

With the bond approved, fire commissioners can now work with architects to draw up plans for a firehouse that will replace the 63-year old station.

Previous: A proposal to borrow over $15 million to build a new fire station headquarters in Westhampton Beach is set to be voted on Tuesday.

The plan calls specifically for the construction of a new $15.7 million firehouse, which will replace the existing, 63-year-old firehouse, which district officials said is antiquated and does not meet the needs of firefighters. It also has several safety deficiencies, officials said.

Depending on interest rates, annual costs throughout the 20-year life of the bond for a $600,000 home could vary anywhere from about $80 to $115 per year. District Treasurer Carol Nemeth said a rate of around 3 percent is expected, bringing with it an increase just under $100. The annual fire district tax bill should come out to about $265 annually.

An informational session was held last week at the fire house, and the vote comes after years of planning.

Voting on the referendum will take place from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the fire house on Sunset Avenue.