Excerpts from the dailyherald.com:
The Fox River and Countryside Fire/Rescue District’s request for a property tax increase has failed yet again. Voters have a history of denying the district’s attempts to bring in more cash, and Tuesday’s election was no different. A binding referendum question seeking a 60 percent tax rate increase was denied in a 4,695 to 4,353 vote, according to unofficial tallies. The measure was a do-over from the March election, when the tax increase was rejected by a roughly 30-vote margin.
The cash-strapped district was hoping to use the additional $1 million or more per year to replace aging equipment, make crucial vehicle repairs, and bring staffing up to safer levels. The board already has cut several firefighter positions in the past two years, including three part-time posts in the spring. The reduced staffing levels have forced the district to occasionally brown-out one of its two stations.
Fire officials for years have been debating how best to serve the district’s 25,000 residents while operating on what they say is insufficient funding. In the past, they’ve even contemplated outsourcing services or dissolving the district.
The referendum question on Tuesday’s ballot asked to raise the district’s tax rate from 27 cents to 43 cents per $100 of equalized assessed value.
thanks Dan
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#1 by Michael M on November 10, 2018 - 1:20 PM
How much would taxes go up in Campton Hills if they started their own department? With 13,000 residents they do need some sort of fire protection. I would imagine that most of the calls in area that are EMS. At the very least, in the short term, FRC should find a way to at least keep the ambulance at that station staffed.
I went to the open house last year at Station 1. I know they have 7 guys on duty including a BC. They staff the ambulance with 2, engine with 2, and tanker with 2. I don’t know what the staffing is like at Station 2, my guess is maybe 5 to 6 guys.
All they need is 2 guys 24/7 to staff the ambulance in the short term, in the long term, dissolving may be their only option. Maybe St. Charles would take over that station on 64 and South Elgin would get the station off of 25 in unincorporated St. Charles.
I have to say, there is a lot of new development around Station 1 off of 25. Lots of new town homes and single family homes. Same thing EMS I see is essential, if they can maintain EMS in the short term and figure out what to do about fire long term, that would be helpful.
#2 by Mike C on November 9, 2018 - 10:59 PM
I think we should promote a county wide fire department rather than multiple municipal fire departments. This would save the tax payers millions and I personally think it would provide better coverage. Look at how so many fire departments/districts are intertwined. They could cut several dozen upper management positions savings a lot of money!!!
#3 by Austin on November 9, 2018 - 7:52 PM
Just dissolve! In an ideal world Campton Hills would start their own department, and FRC would take care of the rest of the district. I think that is a good solution to avoid all of this. At the end of the day Campton Hills has about 13,000 residents, so having their own department should be considered. So long as taxes don’t shoot up too much, I think the residents would be more in favor of that. Campton Hills could even buy the station in the commercial district from FRC, and FRC would have a decent amount of money from that sale. I would venture to say the land and building are worth around 600K, which would go far for FRC and solve many problems in the short term.
#4 by Mike L on November 8, 2018 - 9:42 PM
How about cut your losses and give your make believe fire department back to the communities that can properly and responsibly protect the citizens.