Fire District referendum tabbed at $2 million

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By BETHANY KRAJELIS bkrajelis@kcchronicle.com

ST. CHARLES – A $2 million price tag was attached Monday to an upcoming referendum that will ask voters in the St. Charles Countryside Fire Protection District whether a new fire station is worth a tax hike.

The district's board on Monday unanimously approved putting the referendum question on the April ballot. Voters in the 34-square-mile district that includes Campton, St. Charles and Wayne townships will be asked if the district can issue bonds so it can build a new fire station on the district's far west side.

If voters OK the referendum, the fire district's tax rate will increase from 18 cents to 32 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. That means the owner of a $350,000 valued home would pay $14 more in property taxes a year.

And while board president Ed Malek said he understands concerns over the economy, he thinks that safety is an important enough reason to ask for a tax increase.

He said that a new fire station would help the district, which contracts with St. Charles Fire Department and Tri-City Ambulances for the use of its three fire stations, equipment, staff and services, reduce emergency response times.

The district's average response time is currently about 11 minutes. Based on results of a phone survey the district conducted, Malek said the district is not meeting the expectations of its 20,000-plus residents.

About 80 percent of the 600 survey respondents were unaware of the 11 minute average. Survey results show that the majority of respondents believe that five to seven minutes is an acceptable time.

St. Charles Township resident Dale Seidel was one of two district residents that braved the weather to attend Monday night's meeting. Both residents asked numerous questions and voiced their opposition.

Seidel, who questioned the validity of the survey, but did not take it, told the board that it should have learned from the 2004 failed referendum that sought two new fire stations. Seidel also said did not understand the need, especially during the current state of the economy.

"We have just gone through the Christmas season. I would like to remind you of the original three Wise Men," Seidel said. "They came to Bethlehem bearing gifts; they did not come there to steal Mary's purse."

Board members told Seidel that the district has one of the lowest tax rates in the county. If approved, the district would receive about five percent of residents' property taxes, compared to the school district that gets nearly 70 percent.

One district official pointed out that area cemetery district receives about 5 percent.

Board members also emphasized the district's five year financial plan. Malek said that if voters don't do something, the district is likely to go bankrupt as operating costs and contract terms continue to increase.

"We are trying to be as fiscally responsible and efficient as possible," Malek said of the desired fire station. "We're not going to do more than we have to ... it's not going to be the Taj Mahal."

A new fire station would cost about $2 million, Malek said, adding that number does not include funds needed to adequately equip and staff the new station. He estimated a $3.5 million annual operating cost to cover new vehicles, district administration, contracted services and debt service on the bond.

Without a future referendum, Malek said that responsible budgeting and fund management should be able to provide enough money to support a second new fire station for the district's east side.

The district previously purchased a piece of property for $400,000 with the intent to build a new station there. The failed referendum halted plans and Malek said its residential setting does not provide a good location, but the district continues to pay the mortgage on the Burlington Road property.