Vote 'no' on Bensenville Fire Dist. 1 tax hike

Voters in unincorporated areas between Bensenville and Elmhurst will be asked to raise taxes roughly $110 a year on a $250,000 house to maintain fire protection services.

These are homes serviced by Bensenville Fire Protection District 1, which does not have its own department. This district contracts with Bensenville Fire Protection District 2 for coverage of homes north of Grand Avenue, about 60 percent of its constituents. It uses Elmhurst Fire Department for houses south of Grand Avenue, which represents about 40 percent of the district.

The Elmhurst department wants more money to provide services to the district, which also includes a ComEd switching station and Maywood Sportsmen's trap shooting club.

Board members of the tiny district previously approached the larger Bensenville Fire District 2 about taking over the areas south of Grand Avenue. They worked out a contract. However, residents of that area, which is between Grand and Wrightwood avenues, east of York Road to Mt. Emblem Cemetery, protested. They asked the board to seek a tax increase from voters so they can maintain the relationship with the Elmhurst department.

The higher tax rate would have to apply to the entire district, including Oakdale Woods and White Pines subdivisions. These areas are serviced by Bensenville Fire Protection District 2 and would see no change in service.

We recommend a "no" vote.

Contracting with the larger Bensenville fire district provides a good option without raising taxes. While there is no contract on the table, the district was open to it in the past.

It also is unfair to raise taxes on all residents of the district when it's not necessary. Factor in the uncertain economic times, and this tax increase strikes us as ill-conceived and wasteful.