South Jacksonville trustees weigh higher rural fire protection fees
South Jacksonville trustees discussed raising rural fire protection fees from $75 to as much as $200 a year, a change that would hit farm and rural homeowners outside village limits.
Rural households outside South Jacksonville’s village limits could soon face a much higher bill for fire protection, with trustees weighing annual fees of $150 or even $200, up from the current $75.
The South Jacksonville Board of Trustees kept the question open at its regular meeting, and no action was expected that night. Even so, the range under discussion marked a significant jump for residents who subscribe to village fire protection from outside the corporate limits and depend on that coverage when a house fire, barn fire or other rural emergency breaks out.
Village fire department materials say people living outside the corporate limits may subscribe to rural fire service, but proof of insurance is required. The village’s current annual fee is listed at $75, a figure that makes the proposed $150 or $200 charge a doubling or near tripling of what rural subscribers now pay. That puts the discussion squarely in dollars-and-safety territory for farm properties, rural homes and other outlying parcels that rely on South Jacksonville for response.
South Jacksonville’s municipal code also authorizes the village to contract with owners or occupants of commercial, industrial, residential and farm property outside the village limits to furnish fire protection services. The fire department and rescue squad are based at 1810 Sequoia Drive in South Jacksonville, and emergency response is handled through 911.
The fee debate comes against a larger backdrop of how to pay for rural fire coverage at all. Recent reporting showed South Jacksonville also pursued a fire protection district referendum that would have replaced the subscription model with property-tax funding. That proposal was aimed at raising about $475,000 a year for equipment and part-time daytime staffing, and one report said the measure failed by 15 votes.
That leaves trustees balancing two pressures at once: keeping fire coverage reliable enough for rural residents who live beyond village limits, while deciding how much those households should pay directly for it. For the people writing the check, the choice is immediate. A move to $150 or $200 would mean a clear increase in out-of-pocket cost, even as the village continues to sort out whether subscription fees remain the best way to fund emergency response for South Jacksonville’s rural edge.
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