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Palatine Rural FPD wants tax hike
The *Daily Herald* recently published an article discussing a proposed tax increase by the Palatine Rural Fire Protection District. The district is seeking a 0.05 percent tax hike, which will be put to a vote on March 18. According to Chief Hank Clemmensen, the decision comes as a result of declining property values in the area, which have significantly impacted the fire district’s budget.
Clemmensen explained that the district faced a $300,000 drop in tax revenue compared to the previous year. This decline brought total tax revenue down to $3.33 million, representing a 9% decrease. He emphasized that nearly all of the district’s income comes from property taxes, and the assessed value of the district has fallen by 8.1% since 2011, dropping from $445 million to $409 million in 2012.
If property values remain around $400 million, the proposed tax increase would generate an additional $200,000 annually for the district. This money, according to Clemmensen, is essential to keep operations running smoothly. Without it, the district may not be able to maintain its current staffing levels. Currently, five firefighters are on duty at all times—one team of three to operate the fire engine and two others to drive either the ambulance or the 3,000-gallon water tender, depending on the call.
Clemmensen noted that the district has a strict policy: if two firefighters enter a burning building for search or rescue, two must remain outside as a backup. If the tax hike fails, those who leave their posts will not be replaced, potentially reducing the number of on-duty firefighters to four at any given time. This could impact the district’s ability to respond effectively to emergencies.
“In the past, when fire departments lost money, it was because people left the community, so calls for service dropped,†Clemmensen said. “But my calls have actually gone up.†The district serves approximately 17,000 residents across 17 square miles, covering two-thirds of Inverness and most of the unincorporated areas of Palatine Township.
Under the proposed increase, a homeowner with a $100,000 assessed property value would pay an extra $50 in fire district taxes annually. Additionally, the district’s 19 firefighters are set to receive 2% salary increases in 2013 and 2014. Negotiations for the next labor contract will begin this fall.
Clemmensen added that the last time the district asked for more funding was in 2005, when voters approved a 0.1% tax increase. He stressed that the current request is not made lightly and that the district would not ask again if it wasn’t absolutely necessary. With rising operational costs and stagnant property values, the future of the fire protection district depends heavily on the outcome of this vote.