PORT ORCHARD — South Kitsap Fire and Rescue is planning to ask voters to approve a $4.9 million bond measure that will enable the agency to address outdated and inadequate fleet, facilities and equipment issues.

According to Steven T. Wright, South Kitsap Fire and Rescue fire chief, the bond measure is critical in taking the department out of a deficit revenue status that undercuts its ability to sustain current service levels. He calls the revenue issue the agency’s greatest challenge.

The tax limitations initiated by Initiative 747 in 2001 and the replacement 1-percent cap on property tax increases approved in 2007, Wright said, “puts us at deficit spending levels.

“We’re as lean and as efficient as possible,” he added. “But continuing at this level will only increase the problem.”

Wright said his agency and other essential services departments in the state are restricted to 1-percent yearly increases from property tax assessments.

“As we all know, the cost of living, combined with the effects of the recession, have greatly exceeded the 1-percent increase,” he said. “If this is allowed to continue, our future doesn’t end well.”

Despite having a number of outdated fire-station facilities, Wright acknowledged new or rebuilt buildings are not on the planning horizon. “Facilities is a big animal,” he said. “I can’t take that on right now, but I can advocate for the need to upgrade some of our fire engines, water tenders and medic units to a current (up-to-date) status.”

He said once these needs are met, then the agency will be able to “climb out of a hole” and budget for future needs from its current revenue.“South Kitsap voters are pretty attuned to what’s going on,” Wright said. “They understand we deliver house calls through our service. I want to share with them information (about the bond) in the next few months.”

Wright said the $1.9 million bond issue is directing that 15 cents to be collected per $1,000 of property owners’ assessed home value over a five-year period.