A pair of referendums that will bring in more funding for the Leyden Fire Protection District were supported by the district’s voters, according to the unofficial results from the March 17 election provided by the Cook County Clerk.
The first referendum asked the voters to approve a 0.21% tax increase above what the Property Extension Tax Limitation Law would normally allow. The second referendum asked the voters to allow LFPD to issue up to $3 million in bonds. The district plans to use the new funds to replace aging vehicles and rehab its fire station.
LFPD includes sections of Franklin Park, the north third of Northlake and the unincorporated sections of Leyden Township. It notably includes West Leyden High School, Mannheim Middle School, Westdale and Scott elementary schools and the vast Union Pacific rail yard at the northwest end of the township, which is surrounded by Franklin Park on all sides but is legally unincorporated.
Only the voters in the precincts that fell within the district had the referenda on their ballot. The unofficial results, which don’t include mail-in or provisional ballots, gave a 14.3% turnout. The PTELL referendum passed by 61.8%, or 521 out of 907 votes. The bond referendum passed by 68.76%, or 590 out of 907 votes.
LFPD chief Don Kaderabek said in the lead up to the election his district only has two fire trucks and two ambulances. The new funding will allow it to replace a fire truck and an ambulance that are reaching the end of their useful life. LFPD will now either sell or trade in those older vehicles, and the newer vehicles will serve as back-ups once the new ones arrive.
Kaderabek said delivery of the new vehicles will take time.
“We have an ambulance on order and expect delivery in a few months,” he said. “We will start ordering a new fire truck after the election has been certified by Cook County (in April).”
The other big expense is the fire station, which Kaderabek said is 23 years old and needs a new roof and a more energy-efficient HVAC system. Between that and the solar panel they hope to put it, Kaderabek said, LFPD will save money in the long run – but they must cover the upfront expenses.
Now that the referenda have been passed, LFPD will start working on a strategic plan. While the bond revenue is reserved for building repairs and equipment purchases, the district has more flexibility with extra tax revenue.
“A very important component of this will be keeping the citizens informed of where those funds are going,” Kaderabek said. “This will continue community support, as we have gained their trust and we do not want to lose that element of trust.”
He said that he is grateful for the community’s support.
“We are very pleased that it was successful,” Kaderabek said. “It is never easy to ask the taxpayers for additional funds as nobody wants to pay more in taxes.”
Igor Studenkov is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
