STAFF REPORT
ROSSVILLE — Area voters will face the question of whether or not to help pay for Rossville Fire Protection District’s new station.
Built earlier this year, the station on the north side of the town was expected to be paid for by $850,000 the fire protection district borrowed from a U.S. Department of Agriculture program. The intent was to then pay half of the money back by the district creating a special levy.
State officials ruled earlier in the year, however, that the levy could not be done, leaving the district scrambling for another option.
The referendum on the ballot asks those residents if the district can provide financing for the cost of the new station by issuing bonds in the amount of $850,000.
The bonds would be paid off during a 20-year period, with a tax rate of 12 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. That would mean an extra $70 in taxes each year for a $60,000 home.
Other referenda for the Nov. 4 general election ballot include:
--A referendum asking voters in Vermilion as well as Ford and Iroquois counties to help in the funding of the Rankin Fire Protection District.
The ballot question asks voters whether the district can issue bonds in the amount of $400,000 to cover the costs of building and equipping a new fire station.
In Vermilion County, the district extends from County Road 990E west to the Vermilion-Champaign county line and from just south of County Road 3550N to the Vermilion-Iroquois county line.
--A question to voters regarding board members for the Jamaica School District.
The referendum asks voters in both Edgar and Vermilion counties if the election policy for the school district board members should be changed from the current guidelines which dictate that no more than three board members be selected from one congressional township.
The new policy, if the referendum is approved by voters, would allow board members to be elected at large without restriction according to residence.
