TAMPA, Fla. — For years, Tampa Fire Rescue has been calling for major upgrades to its aging facilities and for new stations to meet the growing demand for services as the city’s population grows. The Tampa City Council is now considering a bond to pay for it.

Council member Luis Viera, who represents District 7, says it’s time to address the growing issue of aging facilities and the need for expansion of fire services.

“We have stations that are 60…70 years old,” Viera said. “Some of them need replacement and some of them need refurbishment.”

At a council meeting Thursday, a vote was postponed until the end of January over creating a bond of $115 million for the upgrades and a new fire station. Some council members wanted more time to look over the costs associated with the renovations.

Tampa Firefighters Union 7534 says it needs at least three stations to keep up with the safety of its citizens. Union president Nick Stocco spoke before the council on Thursday, celebrating a new pay increase for firefighters and the push for upgrades and a new station.

“As we work on making up for decades of mishaps, we’re confident that with today’s success with these wages as well as the item being brought forth on fire station bonding is critical to the public safety…to those that we service in the community in which we respond to,” Stocco said.

The next discussion on the bond is set for Jan. 25.