MT. HOPE-FUNKS GROVE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

                                                TAX REFERENDUM INFORMATION SHEET

Referendum Presentation from Open House

                At the General Election on November 5, 2024, the Mt. Hope-Funks Grove Fire Protection District will be submitting to the voters of the District three separate tax propositions.  This Information Sheet will explain what is being proposed.

               What Is Being Proposed?  The District is a separate unit of local government which provides fire protection, rescue, and emergency medical services (ambulance) as a public fire protection district. It is supported almost exclusively by real estate tax revenues. 

The District is proposing:

·         To add a separate tax levy with a rate limit of .10% (.001) to support rescue service operations and equipment acquisition

·         To increase the rate limit on the District’s general (corporate) tax levy from .30% (.003) to .40% (.004)

·         To increase the rate limit on the District’s ambulance tax levy to .40% (.004) from the current rate limit of .30% (.003).

            Why Is The District Making These Proposals?     In a word, - cost.  The expense of providing fire suppression, rescue, and ambulance service is increasing at a rate which exceeds the current financial capacity of the District to support.  New fire apparatus now cost in the range of $650,000-$800,000 for a basic pumper and ambulance units are priced at $250,000 to $350,000.  Since the COVID pandemic and supply chain issues, all of the equipment expenses of the District have increased greatly.  At the same time, operating expenses for fuel, maintenance of equipment and facilities, and personnel have also increased.  In order for the District to continue to adequately serve the residents of the District additional financial support is needed.  Without it, the quality and response times of the District will be affected negatively.  With the proposed tax rate changes, the District will be better able to maintain and improve its service to the community.

            What Will The Proposed Changes Cost?  The three proposed tax rate changes will allow the District to levy additional dollars for service to the community.  The following table summarizes the additional cost to individual taxpayers:

Based on the most recent information available from 2023, the District expects its total tax rate to increase from .64646% (.0064646) to .94646% (.0094646) and its tax revenues to increase by about $205,000.

PLEASE SUPPORT THE MT. HOPE-FUNKS GROVE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT TAX PROPOSALS!

Taxes: Primary Means of Funding

• Approximate Tax Dollar Distribution:
• Schools/Education: Unit 16 = 5.50933, Heartland = 0.58632
• McLean Village: 0.95113
• McLean County: 0.91684
• Fire Protection / Emergency Medical Services: 0.64646
• Mt. Hope Township: 0.36523
• Funks Grove Township Road and Bridge: 0.34081 
• Funks Grove Township Road: 0.31466
• Mt. Hope Township Road and Bridge: 0.28660
• Mt. Hope-Funks Grove Library: 0.24891
• Mt. Hope-Funks Grove Park District: 0.21753

Services Provided By Mt. Hope-Funks Grove Fire Protection District

• Fire Protection: Fire suppression of all types
• Emergency Medical Services: BLS (Basic Life Support)-transport care of the sick and injured
• Rescue: Extrication and care for victims of traumatic accidents
• Emergency Management: Storm Spotters, Traffic Control for large-scale incidents
• Training: Annual and ongoing training requirements, specialized training
• Types: Live Fire Training, EMS Training for new members

Call Statistics

• 2011:
• Fire: 14
• EMS: 127
• Public Assistance: 23
• Total: 181
• 2016:
• Fire: 19
• EMS: 122
• Public Assistance: 30
• Total: 199
• 2023:
• Fire: 21
• EMS: 183
• Public Assistance: 25
• Total: 241
• 2024 Projections: 250 calls (increase of 9 from 2023)

Equipment Costs Comparison: 2000 vs 2024

• Fire Engine: $1,200,000 (2024) vs $200,000 (2001)
• Turnout Gear: $3,400 (2024) vs $1,000 (2000)
• SCBA (Breathing Apparatus): $10,495 (2024) vs $2,500 (2000)
• Extrication Equipment: $26,000 (2024) (Current equipment was grand funded by OSFM)

Current Needs

• Ambulance Personnel: Increase wages for current personnel and new hires to stay competitive with other agencies. This will allow us to hire more personnel.
• 1 Fire Engine: Current fleet old; currently full of equipment and almost overloaded. Continues to need maintenance on a regular basis
• Bunker Gear: Expensive and expires
• Hose: Expires and deteriorates
• Update Powercot and Powerload System in Ambulance: 7 years old and no longer under warranty

Consequences if Referendum Fails

Potential Actions:

·         Consolidate Districts, increased response times.

·         End Ambulance coverage by the District thus hiring outside agency to provide transport.

·         Reduce the number of fire engines, no other room for current equipment

·         Reduction in services to cut costs

·         Increased vehicle maintenance costs due to old engines

·         Increased burnout of personnel working on the ambulance