Fire Chief John Cornish said Wednesday

 

OSWEGO, IL — After three failed attempts, the Oswego Fire Protection District Board of Trustees appears to have succeeded in passing a referendum to issue general obligation bonds, according to unofficial vote totals.

With 100 percent of Kendall County precincts reporting, unofficial tallies show 4,148 people, or 57.79 percent, voted yes, and 3,030, or 42.21 percent, voted no, according to the Kendall County Clerk's Office.

Since the OFPD serves a small portion of Will County too, some residents in Plainfield were also asked the question. The outcome was the opposite there as the referendum received 4 yes votes, or 80.95 percent, and 17 no votes, or 19.05 percent, according to the Will County Clerk's Office.

"We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the community for their overwhelming support in passing the referendum," Fire Chief John Cornish said Wednesday. "Your trust in our department is greatly appreciated, and we are committed to using the funds responsibly and effectively."

With the issuance of general obligation bonds, officials estimate the increase in property taxes will be about $94 a year, based on the average fair market value of a $300,000 home. The increase will show up on tax bills through 2034.

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The additional funds will allow the department to purchase new apparatus and equipment to enhance its capabilities and allow crews to respond "more efficiently and effectively" to emergencies, officials said.

The decision to initially place the referendum — the district's first in 20 years — on ballots three elections ago was due to an increase in call volume, number of staff and of stations. The cost of apparatus and equipment also significantly increased. As examples, officials cited the cost of emergency vehicles, which went up from $300,000 to $900,000, and firefighters' self-contained breathing tools, which increased from $2,000 to more than $8,000 in the last two decades.

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Before asking voters to approve the tax rate increase, officials said the district sought and received more than $1 million in private, state and federal grants, while also securing almost $750,000 in government surplus equipment and establishing its own vehicle service program.

It's possible the referendum received more votes this time around after officials made the switch from a rescue tax to bond issuance.

To understand voters' reasoning, officials gathered feedback and learned the majority didn't want a "forever" tax added to their bill without knowing exactly what it would be spent on, according to the fire department.

The shift to bonds, rather than a 1 percent tax increase, was meant to address both concerns, OFPD representatives said in February. Not only will the bonds be in place for 10 years, but officials also released a specific list of projects on which the money will be spent: replacing aging apparatus and equipment that is no longer on par with industry standards, constructing an additional satellite station and updating current facilities.

"We promise to continue providing high-quality services to the best of our abilities," Cornish said.