Polls will be open today in Post Falls, Dalton Gardens and St. Maries on bond proposals being floated by Kootenai County Fire and Rescue and the city of St. Maries.

KCFR is seeking a $2 million bond to pay for completing a training facility, remodeling the administration building and equipment and station upgrades.

If the proposal passes with two-thirds approval, residents of areas KCFR serves, including Post Falls, Stateline, Dalton Gardens, Fernan, Huetter and Wolf Lodge, would not see an increase in their existing taxes because an existing bond for the same amount to construct two stations will be paid off in September. However, the owner of a $250,000 home would see a decrease of about $18 per year for 10 years if the bond issue fails.

Voting will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the station at 3820 E. 16th Ave. in Post Falls and the station at 6288 N. Fourth St. in Dalton Gardens.

In St. Maries, the city will float a $2.1 million bond that would be repaid over 30 years to install water meters and develop a second water source on the St. Joe River. The polls at City Hall will be open from noon to 8 p.m.

St. Maries is one of the few cities in the state that doesn't have water meters.

City officials say water conservation and creating fairness to customers with water cost are among the reasons behind the bond and the need for meters.

All residents, no matter how much water is being consumed, are currently charged a flat monthly rate of $36.

If the proposal is approved with a simple majority, the city estimates that about 88 percent of its customers will see a decrease in their bill as residents would be allowed to consume up to 4,200 gallons for a base of $29.

Beyond the proposed flat rate, the cost increases 60 cents per 1,000 gallons for 4,200 to 12,000 gallons, 80 cents per 1,000 gallons for 12,000 to 36,000 gallons, and $1 per 1,000 gallons over 36,000.

Under the structure, residents could consume as much as 12,900 gallons for $35. The average home in Bonners Ferry, a similar-sized town that St. Maries uses as an example, consumes about 8,000 gallons per month.

The bond would not increase taxes; it would be repaid through the new water rate structure.

Here's more information on the proposals:

• KCFR Bond - The cost to complete the training grounds next to the administration building on Seltice Way next to the National Guard armory is nearly $1.1 million. The facility will be used for training on extraction, vehicle burns, confined spaces, technical rescues and building collapses.

With a burn building, crews will be able to practice on live fires at any time at a central location in the district, Chief Ron Sampert said.

The grounds will also feature a five-story tower, 30,000-gallon drafting pit, a classroom, restrooms, backhoe for maintenance, security lighting, fencing and landscaping.

The tower is already budgeted for and is in the design process. Construction on the $1.2 million tower, not part of the bond, will start this year. It will go out to bid mid-summer.

• St. Maries Bond - The city in 2008 decided to install water meters and raised rates by $10 per month with $6 going toward water meters. About $175,000 has been generated for water meters and the plan was to install the devices over seven to 10 years.

However, the city now has a chance at a USDA rural development loan that would allow the meters to be installed in 2011 and create a second water source on the Joe.

The total bond amount, with an estimated interest rate of 3.25 percent would be about $2.49 million.