Welcome back!!

We’re back with our new feature: #Friday5. As we said last week, this is the platform where we answer questions from people in the district to give everyone the best information possible about the upcoming referendum. No question is off limits, and the answers can be fact-checked by anyone looking for the truth.

The Bourbonnais Fire Protection District board is wholly committed to getting the truth out there and being honest about rumors that may manifest regarding this tax rate proposal. Therefore, if you ask a question or make a statement on social media, email, or board meeting, we will answer the questions IN WRITING so you can freely hold us to our word.

Remember, these are YOUR questions, statements, and other communication we have collected via email, read on social media, or found on websites regarding the Nov. 5 referendum. We will pull these questions and statements directly from the internet and answer them for everyone to read.

And – we’ll even admit and point out when we make mistakes, just like we did last week when we mistakenly said the referendum is on Nov. 6. The correct answer is the referendum is on Nov. 5. So, we apologize for that statement.

One more important scheduling note: There WILL NOT be a #Friday5 on June 28. Bourbonnais has a festival taking place and, to be ready for it, it’ll be all hands-on-deck. So, rather than promise a Friday 5 on June 28 and not deliver, we will take the week off and come back on July 5. (Have a happy and safe 4th everyone!!!)

Now, without further hype – welcome to #Friday5:

Q: Stop paying money to Economic Alliance. That's what Bradley did. Keep the money for Bourbonnais. They have Nothing for Bourbonnais.

A: The Bourbonnais Fire Protection District does not and has never paid money to the Economic Alliance. If you have proof that we did, please bring that information forward so we can triple-check. But we have reviewed this information with accountants and financial people, and all have confirmed we have never paid into it.

Q: I think when people read/hear more taxes they vote No. If they knew exactly what they were voting for or against. This referendum would pass. I believe it's all about teaching the voters.

A: We completely agree with you 100 percent. This is why we are coming out here week after week to answer every possible question we can with as much information as possible.

Q: You said the BFPD is funded by property taxes only. Whereas Bradley is funded by taxes collected by that city. So change the way the BFPD is funded. Property taxes are high enough and hurt the homeowners.

A: Unfortunately, we cannot control that. The way taxing districts are funded is completely controlled by state legislators. Villages and the states can use sales tax to offset the costs of departments like the police and residential fire departments. But, like we said last week, the Bourbonnais Fire Protection District is a fire district, not a fire department, is its own taxing body, and only able to collect funding through property taxes (and some ambulance billing.) We could push for legislation to be changed, but that would take years at the state legislature for the changes to take effect and we don’t have that time to wait.

Q: I moved to this area in 1997, so not familiar with how BFPD is funded. In the past I was always told that BFPD was only a volunteer fire department? I’m assuming this is why it was as part of taxpayers funding?

Currently it’s a full/part time position with benefits, with volunteers?

Bourbonnais has really developed since I moved here, with massive New construction development in 1990 and early 2000 to present. At some point, I would think they would have merged into the municipality. Was there a reason that didn’t happen? Is it because Bourbonnais has homes in unincorporated areas?

A: There is a lot to unpack here but we’ll go through it. The BPFD is a full-time fire service offset by paid-on-call, part-time firefighters/paramedics. They are not “volunteers.” in the very old and traditional sense of the word: they are specialists who get paid to work here. In that regard and for transparency’s sake, the fire district employs 15 full-time and 25 part-time employees.

As we have said, the funding for the department comes directly from property taxes and some ambulance billing. However, the amount of money we receive through property taxes annually puts us in the predicament where our specialists are training here then leaving for higher-paying jobs in other departments because we can’t afford to pay enough to retain them. As you can imagine, running a fire district can be VERY expensive. Look at the specialized trucks we have then realize we need two to three trained professionals to ride on each of those trucks. It isn’t cheap, but cutting corners puts people’s lives in danger.

As for the idea of merging: it is nearly impossible for a fire protection district, like Bourbonnais FPD, to “merge” with a fire department operating under a Village. Fire protection districts are distinct taxing bodies so it would take voters to initiate a referendum asking to disband the Fire District. Then, assuming that they were successful, the Village would have to decide to re-establish its fire department. It would need to be a VOLUNTARY decision by the Village – there is nothing residents can do to make them do it – which leaves residents with little promise of fire and EMS services.

Moreover, Bourbonnais FPD covers far more territory than the Village. Even if it were possible for the District to be combined with a municipality, that would mean only Village residents would have fire and EMS coverage, leaving large portions of the District’s territory unprotected – an unfathomable outcome. In addition, there would need to be a splitting of the current holdings like fire trucks, equipment, fire stations, etc. This would cost a lot of money to get new fire services – one in the municipality and a second in the unincorporated – up and running. Not to mention, the Village would have to decide to restart its fire department. Now for those who remember the good old days: The Village had a fire department in the 80’s and decided to discontinue it to stay under certain financial caps. The Fire District independently picked up where the Village left off and took over fire service in the municipality. It was not a consolidation between the two, it was the Village passing the torch to the fire district to take over fire service. So it’s unclear, yet doubtful, the Village has an appetite to reexamine that decision. So, while merging may be enticing from a theoretical perspective, it would not be nearly impossible and far more expensive upfront.

Q: I would recommend Bourbonnais limit spending on pet projects and reroute money. If we change our priorities then maybe another tax hike is avoidable.

A: Hmmm… I’m not sure what you are referring to. The BFPD does not have any “pet projects” and the board is extremely careful how they spend taxpayer money. If you’d like to be a bit clearer on the statement, we’ll happily answer this question again.

That’s it from us for today. See you in two weeks!! Be safe on the 4th!!