Excerpts from shawlocal.com:
The Harvard Fire Protection District is seeking voter approval on the March 19 primary election ballot for a property tax increase. The proposed hike aims to fund new equipment and support staffing needs, which the district claims are essential for maintaining service quality.
This would be the first tax increase request since the mid-1990s, when a similar proposal failed. The current referendum asks voters to approve an additional 0.17% tax levy above the legal limit, which equates to 0.498360% of the equalized assessed value of taxable property in the district.
If passed, the new levy would generate an extra $545,000 annually for the fire department. For a home valued at $100,000, this would mean an additional $170 per year in taxes paid to the district.
John, the part-time fire chief of Harvard, also serves with the Marengo Fire Protection District. Over the past two years, he has had to make difficult decisions, including reducing payroll. The Harvard Fire Department operates out of one station, located at 502 S. Eastman St., and is staffed 24/7 with either two or three personnel. However, residents often see ambulances from neighboring departments like Woodstock or Marengo responding to emergencies due to staffing shortages.
Like many small fire departments across the country, Harvard faces challenges in hiring and retaining firefighters. Larger departments offer better pay, making it hard to keep trained personnel. "We need at least one paramedic and two EMTs on duty at all times," said Kimmel in a recent interview. "Smaller departments are often just training grounds for bigger ones. Once they’re trained, they move on."
The aging fleet of equipment is another issue. The newest fire engine was purchased used from the Algonquin Fire Department. Harvard currently has two ambulances, with a third on order. While the new ambulance will have a fresh chassis, the patient care section will be reused from an older unit.
A local volunteer group has launched a website and Facebook page to provide more details about the referendum. You can find more information at harvardilyes.wordpress.com and follow the campaign on Facebook.com/SupportersOfHFPD.
Thanks, Rob
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