The Lake County News-Sun reports that the Grayslake FPD was successful in passing a tax hike
In a recession-fueled funding pinch, the Grayslake Fire Protection District asked its residents for a tax increase through a referendum and they were rewarded Tuesday with a yes vote. With all 30 precincts reporting at 9 p.m., the unofficial “yes” vote totaled 5,003 or 54 percent of the vote. The “no” votes totaled 3,979, or 44 percent.
“We’re up by 54 percent so I think we feel pretty comfortable with that,” said Fire Chief John Christian, referring to the absentee and provincial ballots yet to be counted.
“I’m grateful to the voters,” he said.
The referendum was needed, he said, to ensure the department’s equipment and staffing keeps pace with service demands in the multi-community district.
The ballot question — requesting a tax rate increase of .16 percent per $100 of assessed valuation — was voted on by roughly 32,000 voters in Fremont Township, Grayslake, Gages Lakes, Wildwood, Third Lake and parts of Round Lake Park and Round Lake Beach.
According to the fire district, the increase would mean the owner of a home that has a market value of $100,000 would pay $53.32 more per year. The owner of a home with a market value of $300,000 would pay $159.96 more a year, officials said.
The district has operated on 9 percent less funding during the last five years, officials said. Expenses, however, have not gone down. The district operates three stations, the newest located near Saddlebrook Farms in Grayslake. Without a revenue increase, district officials indicated that a station may have to close in 2015 or 2016.
thanks Dan
