Richmond Voters to Decide Measure Q Fire Bond
Richmond residents vote on a $120 million bond to repair the city's fire stations on Election Day, November 3.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Elections
Live Poll
Should Richmond raise property taxes to repair its fire stations?
Richmond voters will decide Measure Q, a $120 million general obligation bond to repair fire stations, on Election Day. The City Council placed the measure on the November ballot in July, and it requires support from two-thirds of voters to pass.
Why it matters
Years of deferred maintenance have left Richmond fire stations with mold, leaky roofs, plumbing and electrical problems, and structural damage. If Measure Q fails, the city's backup plan is to ask the council to use Chevron settlement funds for the repairs.
The $120 million bond would cost just under $250 million with interest, adding an average of $22.15 per $100,000 of assessed property value per year through 2060. The outcome depends on whether voters reach the two-thirds approval threshold on November 3.
The players
Richmond City Council
The City Council is the governing body of Richmond that placed Measure Q on the ballot and would appoint the oversight committee if the measure passes.
Chevron
Chevron is the energy company that agreed in August 2024 to pay the city $550 million over 10 years, which is the city's backup funding source for the repairs.
The details
Measure Q would authorize the city to issue bonds to repair, replace and reconstruct fire stations and emergency-response facilities, overseen by a resident committee appointed by the City Council. The Richmond Fire Department, which serves more than 115,000 residents from seven stations, handles about 40 incidents per day.
Timeline
July: City Council voted to place Measure Q on the November ballot.
November 3: Richmond voters decide Measure Q on Election Day.
2060: Measure Q's assessment-based tax increase would end.
Settlement Backstop
Richmond's Chevron settlement, a $550 million payment spread over 10 years from August 2024, is the fallback source for fire station repairs if Measure Q fails. The bond vote therefore tests whether voters will fund the repairs directly or leave them to the council's settlement appropriation.
If Measure Q passes, property owners would see an average increase of $22.15 per $100,000 of assessed value per year until 2060, or about $144 annually on a $650,000 single-family home. If it fails, the repairs would depend on the council appropriating settlement money instead.
The takeaway
Voters weighing Measure Q are choosing between a dedicated tax to fund fire station repairs now and relying on one-time settlement money later. Checking the measure's assessment impact on your property before November 3 will show what it would cost you.
What happens next
Richmond voters decide Measure Q on November 3, and the result determines whether the bond passes and whether the city falls back on Chevron settlement funds.
Further reading
Follow the latest Richmond elections coverage for ballot measures and voter guidance across the city.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Richmond Confidential.
Live Poll
Should Richmond raise property taxes to repair its fire stations?
