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The Kane County Chronicle recently featured an article on the upcoming ballot referendum concerning residents in the Elburn Fire Protection District. This vote, scheduled for November 4th, will determine whether these residents wish to join the Fox River and Countryside Fire/Rescue District.
This referendum has sparked a political debate within the community. The Elburn Village Board recently passed a resolution opposing the potential separation, and Fox River Fire Chief Greg Benson stated that some opponents are spreading incorrect information about his district.
Approximately 3,000 registered voters reside in the proposed disconnect area, which spans roughly from LaFox Road in the east to Anderson Road in the west, with Campton Hills Road to the south and Silver Glen Road to the north. Elburn and Countryside Fire Protection District Chief Kelly Callaghan emphasized that his team has a long-standing history of providing reliable fire and emergency medical services (EMS) to this region. Recently, they even established a new station in Lily Lake to enhance their coverage. "Our department has been around for 132 years, far longer than just the last few," Callaghan remarked.
Benson countered that the quality of service should remain consistent since a judge ruled that the territory would receive equivalent service from the Fox River district. He even suggested that residents could expect faster response times. Calls from the disconnect area currently go through Kane Comm and then to Tri-Com before dispatching units, a process that can take up to four minutes. In contrast, calls to the Fox River district are handled directly by Kane Comm, reducing the time to just two and a half minutes.
Residents in the proposed disconnect area would see a reduction in their property taxes if they join the Fox River district. Benson pointed out that Elburn's current tax rate is around 0.79, whereas Fox River's is approximately 0.27. For instance, a house located at 40W000 Fox Creek Drive in Campton Hills paid $1,548.28 in taxes to Elburn but would only pay an estimated $524.44 to Fox River—a saving of $1,023.84. On the lower end, some properties might save around $350.
If the disconnect is approved, Callaghan noted that the Elburn district won't know the precise amount of lost property taxes until the levy is set. "We're going to do everything possible to avoid layoffs," he added. "We still have 20,000 people in our district who need the same level of service."
Both fire districts charge EMS fees, which the chiefs mentioned is standard practice, with rates varying depending on residency and ambulance type. Benson clarified that his district does not charge for fire responses, contrary to claims made by some opponents. However, he explained that their cost recovery ordinance allows them to impose fees under specific circumstances, such as incidents involving arson or other illegal activities. A fee might also apply to individuals who repeatedly trigger false alarms and refuse to fix their alarm systems.
Thank you, Dan, for sharing this insightful piece.