Excerpts from MySuburbanlife.com:
Mayor Donny Schmit of the Village of Fox Lake has voiced his opinion that the village should not be involved in negotiating fire protection and ambulance services, stating that "there's politics behind it." The mayor emphasized that the issue goes beyond just public safety — it's about fairness and responsibility.
A key decision is set to come up on March 15, when voters will be asked if the village should join the Fox Lake Fire Protection District. If approved, the responsibility for managing these services, including setting tax rates for homeowners, would shift entirely to the fire district. This would mean the village would no longer have a role in contract negotiations with service providers.
Residents who join the fire district would pay slightly more in taxes for fire protection — an estimated $60 more per year for a home valued at $100,000. However, this increase is meant to balance out the current disparity, as fire district residents have already been paying higher taxes for ambulance services since a rate hike was approved last year.
To address this imbalance, the village currently transfers an additional $210,000 in property tax revenue to the fire district each year. This money could otherwise be used for other local needs, such as infrastructure improvements or community programs.
"If the referendum passes, it will create a fairer system where all residents — whether in the village or the district — pay the same tax rates for fire and ambulance services," said Ron Hoehne, chief of the Fox Lake Fire Protection District.
The fire district serves approximately 33,000 people across several communities, including parts of Fox Lake, Round Lake, McHenry, Ingleside, Lakemoor, Spring Grove, and Volo, along with Grant, Burton, and Antioch Townships. Given that 55% of the district’s emergency calls originate from the village, Schmit believes joining the district would be more equitable for the community.
"That’s how our three trustees and our department feel," Hoehne added, noting that nearby communities like Wauconda, McHenry, and Spring Grove have already made the transition. "Wauconda went through this process in 2010 and now operates under its own fire protection district. Many surrounding areas are following the same path."
If the referendum is approved, the fire district plans to hire three additional firefighter/paramedics. Depending on scheduling, this would mean one more person on duty each day. It would also allow the district to catch up on vehicle replacements and improve overall response capabilities.
However, if the vote fails, the current arrangement will remain. In that case, village residents would still pay less than those in the fire district, and the village would continue to cover the funding gap. As Schmit put it, "We’ll keep doing what we have to do, but the current system isn’t sustainable long-term."
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