Elmhurst-Area Agency Issues Fake 'Official Ballot'

ELMHURST, IL — The fire district that serves unincorporated residents between Elmhurst and Bensenville has no authority to conduct an election under state law.

Yet Bensenville Fire District No. 1 last year mailed what it called an "official ballot" to the hundreds of residents in its boundaries.

The district has been fighting off a legislative attempt to merge Fire District No. 1 into Bensenville Fire District No. 2, which serves its namesake town.

Fire District No. 1 is considered a "paper" district. It has no fire engines or stations. It gives most of its property tax money to the city of Elmhurst and Fire District No. 2 to provide fire service.

Last April, Fire District No. 1 residents received a mailer from the district, with the words, "OFFICIAL BALLOT Open Immediately," on the envelope.

The mailer included a letter from the three trustees, Paul Guerino, Jeff Agonath and George Jefferies.

Residents were given one side on the legislation to dissolve Fire District No. 1 and merge it into Fire District No. 2. It is proposed by state Rep. Kathleen Willis, D-Addison.

According to Fire District No. 1's letter, the tax bill for fire services would rise to $892 for a $300,000 house under the legislation, up from $336 currently.

"This is the largest tax increase in DuPage County," the mailer contended.

The letter continued, "Kathleen Willis has never had a community meeting with residents to discuss this. The enclosed card is your only chance to express your choice."

The letter included no other viewpoints on the legislation. The district apparently did not ask Willis or Bensenville officials, who favor the legislation, to give their side in the letter.

The mailer also included a document labeled "OFFICIAL BALLOT."

It asked for a resident's name, address and signature, as well as the number of registered voters in a house. It gave voters the choices for the higher rate with Fire District No. 2 and the current lower rate. The lower rate option indicates the district would go with Elmhurst for fire service, though city officials have not agreed to that arrangement.

In response to a public records request this week, Fire District No. 1's attorney, Pat Bond, said the district does not possess documents listing the results from what he called a "survey."

But Bond said the survey showed 262 residents preferred the current lower tax rate and four wanted to go with the higher rate at Fire District No. 2.

In an interview last month, Bensenville Village Manager Evan Summers said it made no sense to continue having a paper district.

"We all agree that having an unaccountable paper fire district is odd," he said.

Summers had no exact figure on how much taxes would rise. But he said taxes would increase in Fire District No. 1 and fall in Fire District No. 2. They would have a common rate, he said.

In an interview Wednesday, Guerino, Fire District No. 1's board president, said the word "survey," rather than "ballot," should have been used on the mailer. But he said he did not see the letter in the mailer as one-sided.

"This fire district is well run. People are getting the bang for the buck," Guerino said. "When they go to District No. 2, they'll get nothing more, and their taxes will triple."

Elmhurst officials have not publicly stated their position on the legislation.