Oswego Voters Reject Fire Department Tax Hike

OSWEGO, IL — Oswego voters rejected an Oswego Fire Protection District referendum that sought a 1 percent tax increase, according to unofficial vote totals.

With all 40 precincts counted, the question received 9,362 "yes" votes, or 46.78 percent, and 10,651 "no" votes, or 53.22 percent, according to the Kendall County Clerk's Office.

The fire department's Board of Trustees unanimously voted Aug. 8 to place the question on voters' General Election ballots after it failed to pass by one vote in June's primary election, officials said. It was the third attempt to pass the "rescue" tax increase.

"The Board feels that this issue is so important and since it was so close, the decision to move forward a third time was approved," fire officials said in an Aug. 10 news release.

The tax was needed to provide additional money to maintain services, cover the cost of apparatus and equipment, and supplement operating costs, which "have outpaced current funding," Patch reported.

If the referendum would have been approved, the increase would have cost homeowners $33 per year for every $100,000 of a home's market value, which translates to a $99 per year increase for the owner of a $300,000 home.

Officials cited an increase in call volume, given population growth, as the reason for the proposed hike. The district — which covers all of Oswego, as well as parts of Plainfield, Montgomery, Yorkville, and Will and Kendall counties — has grown from 27,000 residents in 2002 to a current 70,000, according to fire officials.

"The Board of Trustees have concluded that without the 0.10 percent rescue tax and significant rise in call volume, we will not be able to provide the level of service we provide today," officials said in August. "Ambulance availability will continue to decrease, and response times will increase. Our staff and trustees find this unacceptable and are seeking the increased funding in the best interests of our community."