Baldermann Pleased New Lenox Fire District Tax Hike Passes

NEW LENOX, IL - Mayor Tim Baldermann credited the New Lenox Fire Protection District with doing a terrific job of convincing the voters of the need to increase property taxes to pay for new fire trucks and ambulances in the growing Will County community. In March, the tax hike was defeated by couple hundred voters. On Tuesday night, back on the ballot, the measure passed by nearly 3,700 votes.

The vote fell overwhelmingly in favor, 9,947 yes votes to 6,258 against, with all 20 precincts counted.

"This time around there was a much better understanding through education of the fire department's needs and the consequences of a failed referendum," the mayor told New Lenox Patch. "It's very simple, nobody wants to pay more for property taxes but where you don't want to sacrifice is in the area of public safety."

Back in March, the New Lenox Fire District's bond measure showed the tax increase was defeated by about 210 votes. The question asked the voters whether they want to increase their tax rate by 0.2023. The current tax rate for fire services would increase from 0.3877 to 0.59. There were 3,278 yes votes but 3,490 no votes.

Within days of the bond question's failure in March, the New Lenox fire district closed Station 2 on Cedar Road and laid off eight people to cut expenses. Weeks later, at the mayor's suggestion, the village board voted to approve ano-interest loan of $450,000.

Election totals:

For tax rate hike : 61.38%

Against: 38.62%

Tuesday's results are unofficial and do not include provisional and late absentee ballots.

That money allowed the fire district to reopen Station 2 and bring back the displaced staff. Mayor Tim Baldermann said the $450,000 loan would get the fire district through the rest of the 2018 calendar year.

"If and when a referendum passes, that money would be paid back to us incrementally over nine years at $50,000 a year. The reason there would be no interest is because the taxpayers fund the fire protection district," Baldermann remarked at the April 9 village board meeting.

The question on Tuesday's Nov. 6 general election ballot for voters is basically the same as the one posed during the March primary.

"Shall the limiting rate under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law for the New Lenox Fire Protection District, Will County, Illinois, be increased by an additional amount equal to 0.2021% above the limiting rate for the purpose of fire protection and ambulance service for levy year 2017 and be equal to 0.59% of the equalized assessed value of the taxable property therein for levy years 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021?

(1) The approximate amount of taxes extendable at the most recent extended limiting rate is $4,934,882.40, and the approximate amount of taxes extendable if the proposition is approved is $7,506,008.30.

(2) For the 2018 levy year, the approximate amount of the additional tax extendable against property containing a single family residence and having a fair market value of $100,000 is estimated to be $67.37.(3) Based upon an average annual percentage increase in the market value of such property at 1.7073%, the approximate amount of the additional tax extendable against such property for the 2019 levy year is estimated to be $68.52, for the 2020 levy year is estimated to be $69.69, and for the 2021 levy year is estimated to be $70.88.(4) If the proposition is approved, the aggregate extension for 2018, 2019,2020, and 2021 will be determined by the limiting rate set forth in the proposition, rather than the otherwise applicable limiting rate calculated under the provisions of the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (commonly known as the Property Tax Cap Law).

New Lenox Fire District officials have previously indicated that if the measure passed, fire station manpower at the existing stations would remain in place. The district could replace outdated equipment. New Lenox would like to purchase three fire engines, one tanker truck and two ambulances over the next five years.

Patch reported earlier this year that if the tax increase is approved by the New Lenox Fire Protection District voters, the owner of a $300,000 home could expect to pay an additional $202 in annual property taxes to New Lenox's Fire Protection District. The owner of a $200,000 home would pay nearly $135 in additional taxes.

More Illinois voting info: Everything To Know About The Illinois 2018 Midterm Elections

Image via John Ferak/New Lenox Patch Editor