On Tuesday, April 10, 2018, the DuPage County Board took a significant step toward dissolving the North Westmont Fire Protection District. The vote was unanimous, marking the start of a process that will see the district officially eliminated. If completed, this will be the fifth local government unit in DuPage County to be disbanded.
The dissolution is expected to eliminate the district’s annual tax levy and clear its $300,000 debt accumulated over the past five years. Additionally, an estimated $11,000 in annual administrative costs will be redirected to enhance fire services for residents.
A new agreement with the Village of Westmont ensures that the area continues to receive emergency services. Under the arrangement, the village will fairly distribute the cost of fire protection while maintaining service for residents in unincorporated parts of Westmont.
"This is a great example of how collaboration between local governments can benefit taxpayers," said DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin. "The agreement provides sustainable funding for essential public services. I commend the efforts of Westmont officials, fire district representatives, and residents who worked together to create this new model."
Support for the dissolution was strong among residents, as shown by a 2016 survey. In June 2017, the county board approved the Village of Westmont to establish a Special Service Area (SSA) to ensure fair and equitable fire service rates for all. The village officially approved the SSA in December, and the County Clerk finalized it in February.
This decision follows previous dissolutions, including the Timberlake Estates Sanitary District, the DuPage Fair and Exposition Authority, the Fairview Fire Protection District, and the Century Hill Street Lighting District.
From the Daily Herald:A paper district that only collects taxes to fund fire and ambulance services for an unincorporated area near Westmont is set to become the fifth local government entity dissolved by DuPage County. On Tuesday, county board members voted to begin the process of dissolving the North Westmont Fire Protection District.
Once the dissolution is complete, the district’s roughly 4,000 residents will continue to receive emergency services from the Westmont Fire Department. Unlike traditional fire districts, North Westmont doesn’t have a fire station, equipment, or staff. Instead, it collects property taxes from 561 parcels and uses the funds to pay the village for services.
Under a new agreement, residents will now pay through a newly established Special Service Area (SSA), which covers the region bordered by Westmont to the east and south, Downers Grove to the west, and Oak Brook to the north.
A state law passed in 2013 gave DuPage County the authority to dissolve North Westmont and 12 other entities. Since then, the county has successfully disbanded several units, including the Timberlake Estates Sanitary District, the DuPage Fair and Exposition Authority, the Fairview Fire Protection District, and the Century Hill Street Lighting District.
The push to disband the fire protection district began after a 2016 survey showed most residents supported the move. In June 2017, the county board granted Westmont permission to create the SSA, which was approved by the village in December and officially established by the County Clerk in February.
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