Frankfort Fire Protection District Ballot Proposal

Reliable Emergency Response, Prepared for Every Call, Protecting the Place We Call Home

Vote by November 3, 2026.

Funding would be used to:

• Add firefighter/paramedics to increase staffing of fire trucks and ambulances

• Provide ongoing training and up-to-date life-saving technology

• Maintain competitive salaries and benefits to recruit and retain qualified personnel

• Replace and maintain emergency vehicles and equipment

• Address fire station and facility needs

Protecting lives and property takes preparation—trained professionals, dependable equipment and fire stations ready to respond every hour of every day.

The Frankfort Fire Protection District has placed an operating property tax rate proposal on the November 3, 2026, ballot. The proposal would provide additional funding for fire, rescue and emergency medical services.

November 3, 2026 Property Tax Rate Proposal

The District has not asked voters for additional operating revenue since 2000. Since then, emergency call volume has nearly doubled while firefighter/paramedic staffing has remained almost the same. At the same time, costs for personnel, vehicles, equipment, insurance and facilities have increased.

The District is currently facing several challenges:

• More emergency calls: Call volume has increased significantly while staffing has not kept pace.

• Staffing needs: The District does not currently have enough first responders on duty to staff fire trucks and ambulances at the levels needed to meet emergency service demands.

• Aging vehicles and equipment: The District is behind its replacement schedule. Since 2000, the cost of a new fire engine has increased 233%, and a new ambulance has increased 166%.

• Facility needs: The District's five fire stations range from 15 to 49 years old and have needs involving roofs, HVAC systems, infrastructure and aging technology.

The District has used cost-saving measures, including purchasing used fire engines and repairing vehicles rather than replacing them. The District has used cost-saving measures, including purchasing used fire engines and repairing vehicles rather than replacing them. However, these efforts have reached their limit and can no longer sustain operations. Additional revenue is necessary to avoid delaying essential staffing, training, vehicle, equipment and facility needs.

Why Is the District Bringing This Proposal Forward Now?

Reliable Emergency Response

A fire, heart attack, car crash or child who cannot breathe are emergencies where families count on help arriving quickly. Emergency calls in the District have nearly doubled since 2005, while firefighter/paramedic staffing has remained almost the same. Maintaining reliable fire, rescue and emergency medical services requires having enough trained personnel available to respond when seconds matter.

The District responds to fires, medical emergencies, rescues, crashes and other complex incidents.

The proposal would provide funding to:

• Add firefighter/paramedics and increase staffing of fire trucks and ambulances

• Work toward nationally recommended staffing standards

• Provide ongoing training for fire, rescue and emergency medical response

• Maintain up-to-date life-saving equipment and technology

• Support competitive salaries and benefits to recruit and retain qualified firefighter/paramedics

Voting Information & Questions

• Remember to Vote by November 3, 2026.

• Additional information, including Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), can be found here.

• Voting information, including registration and election details, is available through the Will County Clerk's Office.