From excerpts on MySuburbanlife.com:
Mayor Donny Schmit of the Village of Fox Lake recently stated that the community shouldn't be responsible for negotiating fire protection and ambulance services, mentioning that "there's politics involved."
A March 15 referendum will ask residents if the village should join the Fox Lake Fire Protection District. Should it pass, the fire district—not the village—would take over taxing homeowners for these services, removing the village from contract negotiations.
By joining the fire district, village residents would see their taxes go up slightly for fire protection—approximately $60 more annually for a $100,000 home. Since the district increased its ambulance tax about a year ago, district residents have been paying a higher tax rate than village residents. To address this imbalance, the village has been giving the fire district an extra $210,000 in property tax revenue, funds that could otherwise be used for other village priorities.
If the referendum passes, Chief Ron Hoehne of the Fox Lake Fire Protection District noted that it would equalize all ambulance and fire tax rates across both the village and the district. The fire district serves roughly 33,000 residents in parts or all of Fox Lake, Round Lake, McHenry, Ingleside, Lakemoor, Spring Grove, along with Volo, Grant, Burton, and Antioch Townships.
Given that 55% of the fire district's calls come from the village, Mayor Schmit believes it would be fairer for the village to join the district. He mentioned that this is how the district’s three trustees and department feel. Chief Hoehne pointed out that the Village of Wauconda underwent the same transition in 2010 and is now part of the Wauconda Fire Protection District. "This has happened around us—Wauconda, McHenry, Spring Grove, Lake Villa, Grayslake, and Round Lake are in fire protection districts. Antioch is also moving in this direction," he added.
Should the referendum pass, the fire district intends to hire three additional firefighter/paramedics. This would mean having one extra person on duty each day based on shift schedules. Additionally, the fire district could catch up on replacing aging vehicles.
If the referendum fails, Mayor Schmit stated that they will keep doing what they need to, but village residents will still pay less than district residents, and the village would have to cover the difference.
This situation reflects broader trends in suburban communities seeking more efficient public safety services. While some residents may feel resistant to tax increases, others believe the long-term benefits outweigh the short-term costs.
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