Fire board members should be elected

A Warrenville committee, Elect Your Fire Trustees, has organized to put the following referendum question on the April 5th, 2015 ballot: "Shall the Trustees of the Warrenville Fire Protection District be elected, rather than appointed?" I am writing to ask residents of the WFPD for their support.

The WFPD board of trustees is the corporate authority for the fire district. It is responsible for writing the yearly tax levy, managing a $3.12 million budget, purchasing vehicles and equipment, appointing the fire chief, and passing ordinances that govern the district.

Currently, the members of this board are appointed by the DuPage County Board chairman, rather than being elected by the residents and taxpayers of the district. The WFPD is the only unit of government in Warrenville that can tax its residents, but doesn't allow residents to vote for its board members. Other boards that can levy taxes on residents, such as Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200 and the Warrenville City Council, are elected by their residents. The WFPD is one of only a few active fire protection districts in DuPage County with an appointed board. Most have elected boards.

The Elect Your Fire Trustees committee believes that if a unit of government can tax its residents, those residents should be able to vote for the people who will spend their money. The committee's slogan is, "Your Taxes: Your Choice."

People who are interested in joining, or want more information can contact the Elect Your Fire Trustees Committee via Facebook,https://www.facebook.com/electyourfiretrustees; website, www.electyourfiretrustees.org, or via email at electyourfiretrustees@gmail.com

Kathleen Perkins

Warrenville