Jan 15
Posted by Admin in Apparatus on-scene, Fire Scene photos | 1 Comment
Photos from Tim Olk of a Box Alarm fire at 41W538 Big Timber Road in Hampshire, within the Pingree Grove and Countryside FPD.
Tim Olk photo
Tim Olk photo
Tim Olk photo
Tim Olk photo
Tim Olk photo
Tim Olk photo
Tim Olk photo
Tim Olk photo
Tim Olk photo
Tags: Ferrara fire engine at fire scene, Fire Chief Michael Falese, fire scene photos, house fire in Hampshire IL, Pingree Grove & Countryside Fire Protection District, rural water supply at fire scene, Tim Olk
Mar 21
Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | 11 Comments
Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:
Voters appeared to have backed a measure Tuesday allowing the Bartlett Fire Protection District to raise taxes and avoid service cuts. With 44 of 50 precincts reporting, the referendum had 4,010 “yes” votes, representing 66.2 percent of the unofficial total. The tax hike is estimated to increase the average homeowner’s annual payment to the district to $569 from $469.
A similar measure was voted down by fire district residents in April 2017. Unlike the buildup to that vote, the consequences of another failed request were spelled out in detail last summer before trustees opted to try once more at the polls.
Officials say the number of
first respondersfirefighters per shift would have to be cut from 14 to 11, and one of the district’s three stations would be closed on a rotating basis throughout the year.One of the biggest misunderstandings about the referendum was some residents’ false belief that the district was a department of the village of Bartlett, rather than the independent taxing body it is. In fact, fewer than 6 cents of a property owner’s tax dollar goes to the fire district. The proposal would raise that to only 7 cents.
Tags: Bartlett Fire Protection District, Bartlett FPD seeks property tax increase, chicagoareafire.com, Fire Chief Michael Falese, Fire Chief Mike Falese, voters approve increased tax levy for Bartlett FPD
Mar 13
Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | 1 Comment
Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:
Among the greatest misunderstandings about the Bartlett Fire Protection District’s March 20 tax increase referendum is the lack of awareness that the district is independent from the village of Bartlett, Fire Chief Mike Falese said. That became clear over the course of 48 informational meetings about the referendum Falese attended in recent months.
It’s significant, Falese said, because voters could mistakenly believe the cash-strapped fire district is part of a village government with other options to raise revenue. Many who came to the informational meetings and coffees were surprised to learn the fire district takes only 6 cents of each of their property-tax dollars. The referendum asks to raise that to 7 cents. The average homeowner’s bill would go up about $100 per year.
Another related source of confusion, especially among village residents, is that the fire district also has jurisdiction over unincorporated areas just outside Bartlett. Residents of those unincorporated areas pay the same rate for the same service as elsewhere in the district.
One major difference between this year’s campaign and last year’s failed effort is that the consequences of voters rejecting the tax hike have been identified in advance. They include reducing the number of firefighters per shift from 14 to 11 and closing one of the district’s three stations on a rotating basis. Such a decrease in service, along with a probable increase in response times, could cause residents’ fire insurance premiums to increase.
The district’s informational campaign owes gratitude to the 200 volunteers making up Friends of Bartlett Fire, which arranged many sessions with homeowners associations and other groups.
Tags: Bartlett Fire Protection District, Bartlett FPD looks into ways to save money, Bartlett FPD seeks property tax increase, chicagoareafire.com, Fire Chief Michael Falese, Fire Chief Mike Falese
Dec 24
Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | Comments off
Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:
Bartlett Fire Protection District trustees Wednesday approved a March 20 referendum asking voters for a 21 percent increase to the district’s own property tax levy — expected to raise the average homeowner’s annual payment to the district from $469 to $569.
Officials expressed concern that voters would be confused by the 21 percent stated in the question, and not recognize it in the context of their overall tax bill. In fact, less than 6 cents of property owners’ tax bills go to the fire protection district and voter approval of the levy increase would increase that only to 7 cents.
The increase is aimed at keeping services at their current level and avoid specific staffing cuts Fire Chief Michael Falese recommended after voters rejected a similar request last April.
Falese said the district’s calls are increasing annually — up to about 4,000 per year — but its tax revenue has increased only 3 percent over the past eight years.
The requested tax increase was calculated to cost the average homeowner of the district less than $8.30 per month. Though Cook and DuPage counties calculate property taxes slightly differently, the impact estimate was based on the home values in the fire district as a whole, Falese said.
Last summer, the chief shared his recommendations with the trustees on how to keep services affordable if voters don’t allow the levy to be increased beyond the restrictions of the tax cap. They include reducing the number of firefighters per shift from 14 to 11 and closing one of the district’s three stations on a rotating basis throughout the year.
The three staff members per shift who would be cut are the one paid-on-premises firefighter and two private contractors who provide a lower-cost supplement to the 10 union employees and the battalion chief.
Because the district’s three engines and two ambulances require a specific number of people, the only way to reduce staff effectively is to take a whole vehicle out of operation — in this case, an engine.
Tags: Bartlett Fire Protection District, Bartlett FPD looks into ways to save money, Bartlett FPD seeks property tax increase, chicagoareafire.com, Fire Chief Michael Falese, Fire Chief Mike Falese, voters reject increased tx levy for the Bartlett FPD
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