North Park Fire to ask voters for property tax increase to bolster ambulance services, reduce response times

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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MACHESNEY PARK — North Park Fire Protection District is turning to voters for funding for the second time in three years, this time in an effort to bolster its ambulance service to reduce response times and create a more sustainable source of revenue for rescue operations.

The fire service, which covers southern Machesney Park and unincorporated areas just outside Loves Park and Rockford, is asking for a property tax increase to fund hiring the staff needed to operate a second ambulance in the 15-square-mile district. Fire officials say the extra crew is critical because of a growing call volume and increasing instances of simultaneous emergency calls.

“This is not a luxury — it is a necessity,” Fire Chief Joel Hallstrom said. “We need a second ambulance on the road to ensure timely emergency care. The way we are currently funded makes that impossible.”

A ballot question going to voters April 1 will ask for approval of a 0.4% property tax increase to fund the additional ambulance. It’s the only referendum being put forward in Winnebago County this election cycle.

The tax would cost the average homeowner an additional $193 per year, according to calculations using the U.S. Census Bureau’s median price of $162,500 for a home in Machesney Park and factoring in the owner-occupied exemption. The owner of a $100,000 home would pay roughly $109 annually.

Hallstrom knows it could be a difficult ask, given the district asked voters in June 2022 to approve a $5 million bond to build a new centrally located fire station. About 58% of voters supported taking on that debt, which increased property taxes for 20 years until construction is paid off.

The district moved into the new station at 1011 Harlem Road late last year. The new station increased the department’s efficiency, Hallstrom said, but emergency service demands often were higher than the department’s resources could cover.

Homeowners in the district currently pay a property tax for fire services — which is largely handled by volunteer firefighters — but not for ambulance response. Instead, those costs are covered by billing up to $3,000 per ambulance response. If the referendum is approved, residents would not be billed for ambulance rides beyond what insurance covers.

The district contracts with Metro Paramedic Services, a division of Superior Ambulance, to staff one ambulance 24/7. The tax would allow for a second ambulance, and it would help the district offer competitive wages to prevent its high turnover, Hallstrom said.

Right now, Hallstrom said they often have to rely on neighboring ambulance when multiple emergency calls happen simultaneously, delaying response times.

He said it can lead to response times increasing from four minutes to as much as 15 minutes in critical situations. The average response time is roughly six minutes, according to the department’s data.

“This morning, for example, we had a possible pulseless, non-breather, and then shortly after had a lift assist and then right after that we had a car accident,” Hallstrom said Thursday. “We should have two ambulances to handle the call volume we’re currently encountering so we can provide a better service to our community.”

The district handled 2,323 calls last year, and 73% of those were for ambulance service. The number of calls has increased 49% in the past decade, up from 1,555. There was a 13% increase in emergency calls in 2024 alone. The district projects more than 2,500 calls this year, another 9% increase.

“If we continue under the current funding structure, ambulance response times will increase, placing a major strain on public safety,” Hallstrom said. “When we must rely on other communities’ ambulances, we are pulling resources away from their residents, too.”

How the question will read

“Shall the North Park Fire Protection District levy a special tax at a rate not to exceed 0.40% of the value of all taxable property within the district as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue for the purposes of providing an ambulance service?”

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas