Mount Prospect considering tax levy hike to hire firefighters

Mount Prospect officials are considering a plan to raise the village's tax levy 1 percent so the community can afford to retain six new firefighters hired with a federal grant.

The grant provides the village with $641,000 in 2016 and $717,000 in 2017, but the village is on the hook for an additional $800,000 to $900,000 in costs for the six firefighters from 2018-2020.

The grant also funded the promotions of three firefighters to the rank of lieutenant and put back into service an engine that had been sidelined due to budget cuts.

By levying an additional 1 percent, the village would raise an additional $177,000 for 2015 and $360,000 each year for 2016, 2017 and 2018, officials say.

“We were able to come up with a feasible plan that doesn't overburden the residents and that supports the additional service,” Finance Director David Erb said.

Village board members, including Mayor Arlene Juracek, said talk of the levy hike is still preliminary.

“Now this is not a done deal,” Juracek said. “Obviously we have many weeks of discussion to go forward.”

Most, however, were generally supportive, saying it makes sense to start setting aside money now needed to retain the new hires.

“I think this idea of smoothing things out over a period of years makes sense,” said Trustee Paul Hoefert.

Trustee Richard Rogers said the additional firefighters will benefit the village's seniors.

“The day that comes when all of a sudden you're on the street lying down with a heart attack, you're going to be awful glad those firemen are there, because they're the ones that are going to save your life,” he said. “So it's a small price to pay for what those firemen do to keep our community safe and to keep our people healthy.”

Erb suggested that revenue growth eventually will cover the added personnel costs in the fire department.

“I think there is some capacity in our budget to then see some natural revenue growth to absorb that,” he said.