North Palos Fire District Hosts Info Sessions on Referendum

PALOS HILLS, IL -- The North Palos Fire Protection will host two info sessions on Oct. 9 and Oct. 27 to discuss a proposed referendum that will appear on the ballot in the upcoming gubernatorial election. Chief Paul Mackin will answer questions and explain the referendum question on whether or not to increase the fire protection district’s share of the property tax levy. The Oct. 9 info station starts at 7 p.m.; the session on Oct. 27 begins at 9 a.m. Both sessions will be held at NPFPD Station #1 at 10629 S. Roberts Road in Palos Hills.

Voters will be asked to answer yes or no to increase the extension limitation of the North Palos Fire Protection District on the Nov. 6 ballot:

“Shall the extension limitation under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law for North Palos Fire Protection District, Cook County, IL, be increased from the lesser of 5% on the percentage of the Consumer Price Index over the prior levy year to 20% for the levy year 2018.”

The North Palos Fire Protection District fields about 5,400 calls for help each year from the communities of Palos Hills, Worth, Hickory Hills and the Cook County Forest Preserve. The district operates three fire stations, covers 14 square miles and serves more than 30,000 residents. The district is a separate organization and taxing body from other municipalities and relies on property taxes to fund its operations. Less than 10-cents of resident’s tax dollar goes to the fire district.

As critical and essential costs continue to increase and available revenue continues to be reduced, the district says it has been forced to eliminate capital spending, eliminate administration positions and reduced the number of firefighter/paramedics on duty.

The referendum seeks to increase revenue and prevent future reductions to service by raising the district’s annual operation levy funding to $104 for the owner of a $200,000 home, which amounts to less than $8.67 per month or 29-cents per day.

The 20-percent indicated in the sample ballot only refers to the fire protection district’s portion of the property tax bill. The district currently receives less than 10-cents of property owners’ tax bill. This 10-cents of the your tax dollar is increasing to 20 percent. With passage of the referendum 11 cents of your tax dollars will go to district instead of current 10 cents.

For more information or questions about the referendum, contact Chief Paul Mackin by phone at 708-974-4474 or by email at pmackin@northpalosfpd.org.

~ Patch File Photo