Misinformed about fire district ballot

As pointed out in a Dec. 8 article ("In DuPage County, questions in pursuit of your money,") the Winfield Fire Protection District will be trying for a third time this February to get a tax increase approved. The money would help shore up a budget and a personnel roster that hasn't seen a tax increase in 20 years - despite a nearly 100 percent increase in fire and medical calls in that same time period. Last time around, the referendum failed by only five votes. So the support is obviously there.

Unfortunately, there is also a vocal minority who has made it their goal to stymie the referendum, spread misinformation about the district's finances, and disrespect the fine men and women who work every day to put out fires and run emergency medical calls.

When it comes down to it, the Winfield Fire Protection District has the smallest tax levy among fire districts in DuPage County. Now, if our tax increase request was passed, do you know what we would rank? Second smallest. Kind of puts a new spin on the rumormongers and number-jugglers who think we are out to waste taxpayer money, doesn't it?

This well-meaning but misguided group suggests that electing trustees instead of appointing them may solve the problem. Go ahead and elect them, then. We don't mind. And our chief is on record as saying he doesn't mind either.

But once they take office, they will find the same situation whether they are elected or appointed - we are "the little fire district that could"- toiling uphill in the interest of public safety, regardless of public disinterest in our fate.

Audrey Finkel

Winfield

firefighter/paramedic

Lisle