Voters Approve Grayslake Fire District Tax Hike

Unofficial results showed voters have approved tax hike to help the Grayslake Fire Protection District.

The increase is meant to help make sure staffing and equipment “keeps pace with service demands in the multi-community district,” according to the Lake County News-Sun. The increase comes six years after voters approved a tax increase to fund more staff, additional equipment and a new station, the Daily Herald reports.

With all precincts reporting Tuesday night, 5,770 voted yes on the referendum while 4,753 voted down the referendum.

Fire officials said the increase is needed because property values dropped 31.5 percent since the last tax hike leaving less funds in the fire district’s coffers, the Daily Herald reports.

The tax increase would mean the owner of $100,000 home would pay $53.32 more per year while the owner of a $300,000 home would pay $159.96 more each year, the Lake County News-Sun reports.

There are 32,000 voters in the Grayslake Fire Protection District, which includes residents in Grayslake, Third Lake, Wildwood, Fremont Township and Gages Lake as well as parts of Round Lake Park and Round Lake Beach, according to the Lake County News-Sun.

For more Lake County Election results, visit the county clerk’s website

NOTE: Tuesday’s results are unofficial and do not include provisional and late absentee ballots and also does not include write-in candidates.