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Ill. voters approve tax increase to support ambulance service

Voters approved a tax increase to help Sublette Fire Protection District cover staffing, equipment and operations through 2029

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Sublette Fire Protection District members work to place their new ambulance in service.

Sublette Fire Protection District/Facebook

By Charlene Bielema
Daily Gazette

SUBLETTE, Ill. Sublette Fire Protection District voters, in an unofficial 143-90 vote count Tuesday, approved a ballot measure to bring in more tax revenue to cover ambulance service costs.

The approval raises the district’s Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, allowing it to be increased by an additional amount equal to 131.95% above the limiting rate.

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The increase will be used to buy equipment, provide staffing, support district operations for ambulance services for levy years 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029, and is equal to .2293% of the equalized assessed value of the taxable property for levy year 2026.

The current amount of taxes extendable is $219,914.60. With the proposed increase, it would rise to $412,396.09.

Proponents of the increase said more funding is needed to help pay for the growing number of ambulance calls and to fill the gap left by cuts to federal and state funding.

© 2026 the Daily Gazette (Sterling, Ill.).
Visit www.saukvalley.com.
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