Editorial Note: High Plains Pundit is based in Canyon, Texas. Editor and publisher Dan Butcher and his family have lived in the Canyon community for over 24 years.
On May 3, 2025, Canyon voters will have the opportunity to make a crucial decision about the future of public safety in our city. The proposed $14 million bond will fund much-needed improvements to the Canyon Fire Department, Police Department, and City Hall, ensuring that our first responders have the resources they need to protect and serve our growing community.
While any tax increase requires careful consideration, this bond is not just an expense—it is an investment in the safety, efficiency, and preparedness of our emergency services. Canyon’s population has grown dramatically, and our public safety infrastructure has not kept up. Without these improvements, our police officers and firefighters will continue operating in facilities that are outdated, inadequate, and ill-equipped for the demands of a modern city.
This bond offers a fiscally responsible solution to these challenges, making essential upgrades while keeping costs reasonable for taxpayers. The choice is clear: vote YES on May 3 to invest in a safer, stronger Canyon.
Why This Bond is Critical
Canyon’s Growth Has Stretched Emergency Services Thin
Canyon has experienced rapid population growth over the last 50 years, with the number of residents doubling to 16,000 people. As a result, both police and fire department call volumes have increased significantly—yet their facilities remain outdated and undersized.
The Canyon Fire Department (CFD) is transitioning to 24/7 staffing for the first time in its history, but it does not have proper sleeping quarters for firefighters on overnight shifts.
Firefighter gear storage is unsafe, as essential equipment is exposed to fumes and elements inside fire station bays.
Training facilities for first responders are severely lacking, making it difficult to prepare for emergencies efficiently.
The Canyon Police Department (CPD) was previously operating from a building never designed for law enforcement use, creating security risks and inefficiencies for officers. While the department has moved into the former Gold Star building, it still requires renovations to function properly as a modern police station.
City Hall needs renovations to repurpose the space previously occupied by the police department, ensuring city operations continue smoothly.
Without this bond, our first responders will continue working in facilities that hinder, rather than support, their ability to protect us.
How the $14 Million Will Be Spent
The bond is strategically designed to prioritize the most urgent needs while keeping costs as low as possible.
Canyon Fire Department ($8.85 million)
Renovations to Fire Station #1, including the conversion of a vehicle bay into proper sleeping quarters for 24-hour shifts.
New gear storage areas to protect equipment from contamination.
A new training facility, including classrooms, a training barn, and a burn house for realistic, hands-on emergency response exercises.
Purchase of a new fire engine truck, ensuring CFD can effectively respond to fires in a growing city.
Safe Haven Baby Box installation, allowing parents in crisis to safely and legally surrender newborns.
Canyon Police Department ($4.9 million)
Renovations to the new headquarters at the Gold Star building, ensuring it functions properly as a police station.
Construction of a new animal shelter, providing better conditions for rescued animals and improving animal control services.
City Hall ($250,000)
Repurposing former police department space for Planning and Development and Public Works, ensuring city services remain efficient.
A Smart and Cost-Effective Approach
Canyon’s city officials have carefully planned this bond to minimize costs while maximizing benefits.
Instead of building a new police station, the city purchased and is renovating the Gold Star building—saving taxpayers $2 million.
By renovating and expanding existing facilities, rather than constructing entirely new buildings, the city is avoiding unnecessary spending while still achieving critical improvements.
The fire department upgrades align with its shift to 24/7 staffing, meaning this investment directly supports better emergency response times.
This bond is not about luxury upgrades—it is about ensuring that Canyon’s first responders have the tools and facilities necessary to do their jobs efficiently and safely.
The Cost to Taxpayers: A Reasonable Investment
While some residents may be concerned about a tax increase, the impact is modest compared to the long-term benefits.
The bond will require an annual debt service payment of just over $1 million at an interest rate of 4.5% over 20 years.
For the average Canyon homeowner, the bond will result in an annual property tax increase of about $242—or about $20 per month.
To put that in perspective, that’s about the cost of one family meal at a restaurant per month—a small price to pay for better emergency services and a safer community.
Additionally, investing in public safety infrastructure can lower homeowners’ insurance rates, potentially offsetting some of the tax increase.
To ensure transparency, the city has launched a tax rate calculator on its website, allowing homeowners to see exactly how the bond will affect them.
Community Support & Public Engagement
City officials have been actively engaging with residents to provide information and gather feedback.
A Flash Vote survey with 455 residents participating has gathered public opinions on these projects.
City leaders have been speaking at local events, including a presentation to the Canyon Rotary Club.
A billboard on I-27, mailers, and community presentations are being used to inform voters.
Mayor Gary Hinders has acknowledged that a tax increase is never popular, but he emphasized that this investment is necessary.
“We have 50-year-old facilities that no longer meet our needs. Investing in public safety could also reduce homeowners’ insurance costs, potentially offsetting some of the tax impact.”
City leaders want voters to be fully informed and are encouraging residents to ask questions and participate in the discussion before making their decision.
A Historic and Crucial Vote
This is only the second bond election in Canyon’s history. The first, approved in 2016, funded the Canyon Aqua Park, which has since become a beloved community feature.
Just like the Aqua Park, this bond is an investment in Canyon’s future—but this time, the investment is in something even more essential: public safety.
A Vote for Safety, A Vote for the Future
This bond is about more than buildings and budgets—it’s about ensuring Canyon remains a safe place to live, work, and raise a family. Our first responders deserve the tools and facilities necessary to protect us, and as a community, we have a responsibility to provide them.
Our firefighters need proper sleeping quarters for 24-hour shifts.
Our police officers need a functional headquarters designed for law enforcement.
Our growing city needs better-equipped first responders to handle emergencies efficiently.
We cannot afford to wait another decade to make these improvements.
