Endorsement: Yes to Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District request

On Nov. 6, voters in the Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District will be asked to OK a $4.5 million bond to fund renovations at three fire stations, purchase new equipment and replace an ambulance and fire engine.

The district, which serves Hainesville, Round Lake, Round Lake Beach, Round Lake Heights, Round Lake Park, Grayslake and parts of unincorporated Lake County, hasn't proposed a referendum question since 1979.

If voters approve, the owner of a house valued at $200,000, would pay about $30 more to the district. The funds would be used to make renovations to the district's three stations.

Station 1, which was built in 1946, doesn't have enough room to adequately house the firefighters stationed there. Stations 2 and 3 are in need of infrastructure repairs and would get upgrades to crew alerting systems. The district, which is one of the busiest in Lake County, also would like to replace a fire engine that is 25 years old and replace an older ambulance.

Nobody wants to pay more taxes, but the fire protection district has shown solid fiscal management and hasn't asked voters for additional funds in almost 40 years. The district has laid out a solid case for the station improvements and new equipment it needs.

Voters should say yes to the referendum.