Elmhurst Mum On Nearby 'Paper' Fire District

ELMHURST, IL — Elmhurst has been asked to develop a position on state legislation that would eliminate the "paper" fire district that covers the unincorporated area between Elmhurst and Bensenville. The city has not done so yet.

This week, a City Council committee and Mayor Scott Levin requested the city's staff to work with other government entities on the issue and report back, a city spokeswoman said.

Earlier this month, a representative of Bensenville Fire District No. 1 spoke in opposition to the legislation at an Elmhurst City Council meeting.

"The loss to Elmhurst is significant. We gave you $106,000 last year," the fire district's consultant, Paul DeMichele, told aldermen.

Under the bill, the district would merge into the bigger Bensenville Fire District No. 2, which covers its namesake village. The Bensenville village government supports the legislation. Under the legislation, property taxes for unincorporated residents could increase. Opponents say taxes would triple for unincorporated residents.

Fire District No. 1 has been without fire trucks and a station for more than three decades. Elmhurst provides services south of Grand Avenue and Bensenville north of Grand.

Fire District No. 1's sole responsibility is to send annual checks to Elmhurst and Fire District No. 2. But that comes with some bureaucracy — each of the three trustees get $1,000 a year, DeMichele receives $250 a month and its lawyer bills the district hundreds of dollars a year.

On Wednesday, Patch asked the city of Elmhurst whether unincorporated residents are paying their fair share for fire services compared to city residents.

City spokeswoman Kassondra Schref responded, "We are unable to answer your question on the annual equation because the City has a blended tax rate."