Time for fire district to pony up

This letter is a response and clarification to your March 25 article on the St. Charles Countryside Fire Protection District.

For several years, the City of St. Charles has cautioned the district of increasing financial concerns due to its artificially low tax rates. President Malek's quote that "tax rates of surrounding (fire prevention) districts are three or four times higher than ours," confirms our growing concern.

More than 21 percent of emergency activity of the St. Charles Fire Department serves district residents, while receiving payment of less than 18.75 percent of the department's annual budget, traveling greater distances, and providing the same manpower levels as city residents for calls for service.

Rather than blame the City of St. Charles for expenses they "can't control," we believe it is reasonable to request that the district shoulder its proportional share of expenses for the quality services it receives. In lieu of seeking a tax increase to maintain the existing level of service, the district has up until now allocated collected tax revenues to a reserve fund for capital projects and has sought voters' approval for the construction of new stations in the district.

We believe two consecutive failed referendums have indicated its residents' preference. We recognize that residents of the rural areas surrounding St. Charles have moved there for a reason. They enjoy their pursuit of happiness by residing in a rural atmosphere, and have chosen to live without the same levels of municipal service as more densely populated areas.

The city has responded to the needs of the district for more than 40 years. We urge the fire district to continue to work with the city of St. Charles to provide adequate financial support for the quality service it currently receives.

Donald P. DeWitte

Mayor

City of St. Charles