Fire district needs tax increase

On April 7 at the general election, the Fox Lake Fire Protection District will have a referendum question on the ballot in order to raise the ambulance tax rate to a level that is required to maintain the same level of service that the fire department currently provides.

Currently, the fire district derives its dollars to operate from property values, and as you are very much aware, the property values (EAV), have gone down tremendously in the last six years. This has greatly impacted the fire district, and they are now in a position of having to go to the district voters for help.

The current ambulance tax is the lowest in Lake County, and we have provided an even greater level of services including: advanced life support, water rescue, technical rescue, hazardous materials, wildland firefighting, community assistance, fire inspections with building plan review, fire prevention, public education, and numerous other essential services to the district.

The Fox Lake FPD hasn't ever asked for an increase since the ambulance tax was established in 1978, but boy oh boy has the level of service provided and training requirements dramatically increased for the members of the department in order to properly serve the residents of the district.

Please join me in casting a "yes" vote on Tuesday to keep the best level of EMS/Fire service in Lake County.

Kevin Hunter

Ingleside