Leading up to the municipal elections, we're taking a look at measures that could impact the safety of your family.

Most of the nearly six million bond dollars Muni emergency officials say are critical to improving fire coverage and emergency communication will appear in the form of Proposition 3 on Tuesday's ballot. You may remember during the September 11th terrorists attacks radio communication between emergency workers failed. Officials now say they're trying to make sure that failure does not happen here in Anchorage. But voters will have to decide if raising their property taxes is a price they're willing to pay.

Proposition 3

It's all part of a community-wide project to upgrade the 20-year-old

system and make sure first responders are able to communicate with each other. Right now, police and fire officers cannot do that. They currently use two different radio frequencies. If the bond passes, Muni officials would use the money to pay for the towers and tower equipment that will eventually provide a universal radio signal emergency officials would use. Muni Emergency Management officials say even if voters do not want to raise their property taxes, they need to understand how important radio communication is.

"...are concerned at all at any time you'll need medical assistance, if you're ever concerned that you might need assistance with law enforcement, if you might ever need assistance with home fire, you absolutely want to have your first responders have the tools they need," said Muni Homeland Security Director, Heather Handyside.

The rest of the money would be used to buy four ambulances. If Proposition 3 passes, property owners would see their taxes increase by 2.28 dollars for each 100,000 dollars of their assessed property value. That breaks down to a 1.60 dollar tax increase and an estimated 68 cents for operational and maintenance costs.

Proposition 7

The three

million dollar Proposition 7 would expand Fire Station 12, near Dimond and New Seward. Officials say it's too small and cramped right now. The station not only serves the municipality's fastest growing area, but also serves as a first responder with six other stations across the city.

While Station 12 currently has a fire truck, they say they need a fire engine with an on board water supply. So, the bond money would also be used to buy that fire engine.

"We have a lot of responses that are increasing in that area. That community is growing, is growing very rapidly. And we have a great need for a fire engine in that area of town as well. What happens when we don't have one SS we have to cover that area with a fire engine from Station

Four on Tudor, or Five which is Spenard, or Seven Sand Lake, or up on the Hillside. And that's, obviously, a long response in there. So there's a real definite need for a fire engine at fire station number 12," said Chief Craig Goodrich of the Anchorage Fire Department.

"We sleep for 24 hours, and eat here and so forth. So to prepare meals, and so on, for the additional people coming on, that would make us a 13-person station. The facility itself is real, real tight and inadequate for our current situation," said Senior Captain Andrew Provencio of the Anchorage Fire Department.

If Proposition 7 passes, property owners would see their taxes increase by 9.11dollars for each 100,000 dollars of their assessed property value. That

breaks down to a 92 cent tax increase and an estimated 8.19 dollars for operational and maintenance costs. While everyone will vote on the measure, only voters who live in the Anchorage fire service area will see the property tax increase. Chugiak, Girdwood and other areas outside the service area will not see the hike.

To contact Matthew, call 907-273-3186.