Antioch seeks tax levy

The Lake-County NewsSun recently published an article highlighting the Antioch Fire Department's efforts to secure a tax levy in order to support its emergency medical services (EMS) operations. Facing a significant budget gap of nearly $800,000, local officials are preparing to ask voters to approve a 25-cent tax levy during the upcoming November election. This initiative comes after the village and township of Antioch both agreed to put the same referendum on the ballot for unincorporated residents. If approved, the levy would result in additional annual costs for homeowners. For example, a homeowner with a home valued at $140,000 would pay an extra $101.67 per year, while someone with a $225,000 property would see an increase of $172.50 annually, according to Village Administrator James Keim. Keim emphasized that this move is essential for stabilizing funding for EMS, which has historically relied on the not-for-profit Antioch Rescue Squad (ARS). While the Antioch Fire Department serves both the village and township, ambulance services have been managed separately for each area. The First Fire District, which is set to end its contract with ARS next month, currently handles ambulance services in the unincorporated parts of Antioch. Starting in May, the village and township will begin working together under the leadership of Fire Chief John Nixon, integrating fire and ambulance services into a more coordinated system. Nixon views the proposed tax levy as a crucial element in ensuring the success of this joint effort, estimating it would generate around $1.6 million annually for EMS. “The goal of this referendum is to establish a reliable source of funding for ambulance services in the village and the First Fire District,” Nixon explained. He also noted that ARS never offered free services over its 72-year history. “While they received insurance reimbursements, their operational costs—like equipment and personnel—were covered by donations and community support. That model simply isn’t viable anymore.” Nixon added that Antioch was one of the last communities in Lake County to rely on a volunteer rescue squad. “Every other community in the area uses tax levies to fund emergency services. We’ve been a bit behind, but we need to catch up. These are tough times, but without stable funding, we risk going deeper into debt.” Village Administrator Keim echoed these sentiments, stressing the importance of the referendum for maintaining high-quality life safety services. “Even when ARS was providing ambulance services, a portion of the funding came from tax dollars,” he said. “There’s a common misunderstanding that tax money hasn’t been involved or that the service was free. The truth is, if people want reliable and effective EMS, there must be a sustainable way to fund it.” He concluded by saying that adopting a tax levy would help take EMS out of competition with general funds and ensure long-term stability for emergency services in the community.

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