Voters in the city of Keithsburg and Township of Keithsburg are being asked to create a Fire Protection District to fund emergency services. Keithsburg Mayor Sharon Reason sent this letter to those in the affected area. A public informational meeting is being held Saturday, October 12th, 2024 at 6pm at the Keithsburg Fire Station.
“To the Voters of the City and Township of Keithsburg,
Please be sure to vote in the November 5th Election. We have to vote “Yes” for the formation of the Keithsburg Fire Protection District. Presently, the City of Keithsburg receives only $3,500 for the Keithsburg Volunteer Fire Department from the tax levy. All other expenses for the Fire Department are paid out of the City’s General Fund or by the support of this community through donations and fundraisers. In addition to the Fire Department expenses coming from the General Fund, the City’s annual cost for 911 Ambulance Service is $42,000 annually. This is also coming out of the City’s General Fund and is unsustainable.
If approved by the voters, a new Fire Protection District can raise the funds necessary to continue to provide 911 Ambulance Service to the citizens of the City and Township Keithsburg. At the same time it can increase the funds available to the Fire Department three times over the projected levy for the Fire Protection District is approximately $53,000. That covers the cost of the 911 Ambulance Service and provides approximately $11,000 a year for the Fire Department.
What is the impact of this on property owners? The simple answer is $3 per $1000 of net taxable value for the property. So for a home with a net taxable value of $10,000 the increase to the owner would be $30. A home with a net taxable value of $50,000 would see an increase of $150. And a home with a net taxable value of $100,000 would see an increase of $300 Property owners in the City of Keithsburg will see a 5.54% decrease in their City levy
The City of Keithsburg needs your help by voting “Yes for the creation of a Fire Protection District. What is at stake is the very real possibility that when someone dials 911 for an ambulance, the response will be “Sorry, we can’t afford it.
City of Keithsburg
Mayor Sharon L. Reason”
We asked her about the letter on a special edition of Focus Thursday.