The Daily Herald recently published an article highlighting a proposed tax levy aimed at bolstering EMS operations in Antioch. According to local officials, the plan involves consolidating emergency services under a unified fire and rescue framework, seeking resident support through increased taxation. If passed, this initiative could be implemented within the next couple of months, placing the Antioch Fire Department at the helm of all fire and rescue activities across both the village and the township. A newly formed five-member emergency services board would oversee these operations.
One critical aspect of this proposal is the introduction of a property tax levy specifically earmarked for emergency services. Antioch Fire Chief John Nixon mentioned that members of the fire safety commission have begun engaging with village and township leaders to propose a 25-cent per $100 property tax rate for the November ballot. Should the referendum pass, homeowners with properties valued at $150,000 would likely contribute approximately $140 yearly toward funding the new setup. This measure includes distinct questions for village and township voters, and if both are approved, it could yield around $1.6 million annually for the fire department.
This reorganization, spearheaded by the fire safety commission—a collaboration of township and village representatives—aims to simplify the existing convoluted emergency service structure in Antioch. At present, the First Fire Protection District of Antioch, the Antioch Rescue Squad, and the Antioch Fire Department share responsibilities for emergency medical services over a 37-square-mile area. While the fire district handles fire emergencies throughout the village and unincorporated zones, rescue missions are divided between the village's fire department and the Antioch Rescue Squad in non-incorporated regions.
Following the proposal, village and township councils must sign an intergovernmental agreement, designating the Antioch Fire Department as the exclusive provider of fire and rescue services. Replacing the current three-member First Fire Protection District board, the new five-member emergency services board, composed of appointees from both the village and township, would take charge of overseeing the fire department. Additionally, the agreement mandates that the village and township supplement any operational costs exceeding those generated by the tax levy.
For improved coverage, the fire department plans to operate out of three stations, with two located in the village, which accounts for 65% of fire-related calls. The third station, positioned on Grass Lake Road, will cater to unincorporated areas within the township. Currently, the village, township, insurance firms, and private fundraising efforts collectively fund the three emergency agencies servicing the region. As noted by Nixon, maintaining this arrangement is unsustainable.
Antioch Village Administrator Jim Keim disclosed that the village allocates roughly $66,000 monthly to Metro Paramedic Service for staffing village-owned ambulances and managing rescue operations. Although the village recovers about half of these expenses via patient or insurance reimbursements, the remaining deficit must be covered by local government funds. "We need a sustainable solution," Keim emphasized. "Otherwise, the village's general fund will face severe strain, leading to financial shortfalls." This transition has also impacted the Antioch Rescue Squad (ARS), whose contract with the First Fire District won't be renewed upon expiration in May. This marks another setback for the 75-year-old volunteer organization, which has been grappling with challenges since 2012. Nixon stated that ARS functioned as a subcontractor for the fire district, and the service was not extended. In response, ARS Chief Brian DeKind noted that the group will redirect its focus toward community paramedicine, such as wellness checks and home healthcare services.
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