Politics & Government
New Lenox Fire District Voters Saying No to Tax Rate Hike
With just a few precincts left to count as of 9:30 p.m.
Voters in the New Lenox Fire Protection District opted not to increase the property tax rate to pull in more money to fund operations.
With 17 of 20 precincts counted as of 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, 2,157 no votes were cast to 1,825 yes votes, according to unofficial results.
The district wanted to use the money to purchase upgraded equipment and keep ambulance service free.
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"Although the referendum did not pass, we will strive to become the best we can be for everyone who lives and passes through our district," read a statement from the district. "As our mission states: The primary mission of the New Lenox Fire and Ambulance Protection District is to provide a range of programs designed to protect the lives and property within New Lenox Village and Township from the effects for fires and sudden medical emergencies or exposure to dangerous conditions created by man or nature with professional, compassionate, and quality service."
The district noted that the population has doubled to 34,063 in the last 25 years, when the tax rate was last increased. The rate now stands at 36 cents per $100 of equalized assessed value and the district wanted to raise the rate to 48.9 cents, saying the owner of a house valued at $200,000 would see an increase of $86 a year on the tax bill.
"We want the residents to know we will continue to work on finding alternate funding to support our efforts of becoming more highly trained and to obtain the sufficient apparatus necessary for our jobs."
The district includes New Lenox, parts of Mokena and parts of Manhattan and Homer townships.
The district noted that the population has doubled to 34,063 in the last 25 years, when the tax rate was last increased. The rate now stands at 36 cents per $100 of equalized assessed value and the district wanted to raise the rate to 48.9 cents, saying the owner of a house valued at $200,000 would see an increase of $86 a year on the tax bill.
"We want the residents to know we will continue to work on finding alternate funding to support our efforts of becoming more highly trained and to obtain the sufficient apparatus necessary for our jobs."
The district includes New Lenox, parts of Mokena and parts of Manhattan and Homer townships.
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