- Editor’s Note: The following is a guest essay from Kelly P. Callaghan, Fire Chief of the Elburn & Countryside Fire Protection District.
Dear Editor,
As the November 4, 2014 referendum approaches, the newly formed Fox River & Countryside Fire/Rescue District has been under a lot of scrutiny in the media. In one of their recent communications, they mentioned that “Change tends to bring out strong emotion.†That’s true—change can be emotional, especially when it affects how your tax dollars are spent.
Drew Frasz, our Kane County Board representative, recently wrote in a Letter to the Editor, “Many government bodies have struggled with declining revenues over the last few years, but hostile takeovers of areas that have been well-served by fiscally responsible agencies is not something I support.†We fully agree with that sentiment.
The Fox River Fire/Rescue District is pushing for more rooftops to help pay off their $4.4 million debt, which is a financial issue, not a public safety one. If this were truly about protecting lives and property, they wouldn’t have repeatedly tried to block the Elburn & Countryside Fire Protection District from opening a station in Lily Lake. They wouldn’t have also worked to silence the voices of Elburn and Lily Lake residents who oppose the disconnection and support our long-standing service, which has protected these communities for over 132 years.
Are you ready to take on Fox River’s $4.4 million in debt? If you vote to disconnect from the Elburn Fire Protection District, that’s exactly what the referendum is about: you will be taking on their financial burden. Eventually, your hard-earned tax dollars will be used to pay off that debt, as well as cover the cost of additional equipment and personnel needed to serve you and your family.
While Fox River continues to accumulate debt since its formation, the Elburn & Countryside Fire Protection District has operated without any debt, hidden costs, or new taxes. Their financial model simply doesn’t add up.
Let the facts speak for themselves, and let your voice be heard at the polls.
PLEASE VOTE NO on November 4!
Kelly P. Callaghan
Fire Chief, Elburn & Countryside Fire Protection District
Thanks, Dan.
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