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In a recent article from *The Daily Herald*, the focus is on the ballot initiative for introducing an ambulance tax in Antioch. The measure aimed to address funding gaps for emergency medical services but faced rejection from voters. This outcome has left local officials scrambling to figure out their next steps.
Despite the setback, immediate drastic changes aren’t anticipated, yet the possibility of service reductions looms large. These could lead to longer response times in the upcoming weeks or months as both village leaders and the First Fire Protection District deliberate over potential solutions to maintain operations. Another pressing concern is whether the community should be asked again for support during the next election cycle. The financial strain caused by a $2.7 million annual budget is already testing other areas of public spending.
"Antioch has always stood out as unusual for not having its core services—like ambulance care—funded through taxes," noted Village Administrator James Keim. "Now that this service must transition into being publicly funded, there’s a clear gap in how we’ll cover these costs. It’s not something people immediately grasp."
Residents in both the village and Antioch Township voted against establishing a property tax designed to cover ambulance services for roughly 27,000 inhabitants. If approved, this tax would have generated approximately $1.5 million in its inaugural year, with homeowners paying an extra $835 annually for properties valued at $100,000. Unofficial tallies suggest the vote was overwhelmingly opposed, with 2,139 votes against versus 1,925 in favor within the village and 2,018 to 1,417 in the township.
For decades prior, ambulance services in the Antioch region were handled by the Antioch Rescue Squad, a non-profit organization sustained by user fees and charitable contributions. However, this arrangement ended in May when the Antioch Fire Protection District chose not to renew the contract and opted instead to integrate ambulance services under the umbrella of the Antioch Fire Department.
Currently, the Antioch Fire Department relies on part-time staff supplemented by contracted paramedics. Their shared facilities include three stations and equipment, with costs divided between the village via its general fund (which supports numerous daily operations) and the fire protection district using its reserve funds. Although each entity can levy taxes for firefighting activities, getting voter consent is required to impose them specifically for emergency medical services—a condition that voters have thus far rejected.
Efforts to enhance response efficiency by upgrading the third fire station are also uncertain moving forward. Previously, plans were underway to solidify these improvements and ensure all three stations were fully operational across a 36-square-mile area. However, financial constraints may prevent this from happening.
Village finances are currently unsustainable given the level of services they aim to deliver, according to Keim. As such, finding new revenue streams or rethinking existing programs will likely become central to future discussions.
Thank you, Dan, for sharing this insightful update!