On the March 15, 2016 Primary Election Ballot is a referendum to allow the City to have fire and ambulance services provided by the City of Highland Park’s internationally accredited Fire Department.
The language of the referendum will read as follows: “Shall the City of Highwood Fire Department serving the citizens with the City of Highwood cease to provide emergency services and be dissolved and discontinued?”
Unlike other referendums, the language is set by state statute and the City is not allowed to change it. As a result, the wording may be unclear and the intent of the referendum confusing for some voters. The City wants to clarify that if a majority of the votes are in favor of the referendum, meaning a yes vote, then the City will have fire and ambulance services provided by the City of Highland Park’s internationally accredited Fire Department. If the majority of voters oppose the referendum, a no vote, then the City will have to contract with a private company called PSI for fire and ambulance services.
If the referendum passes, staff projects a cost savings of more than $9.3 million over a 10-year period of time, which does not include savings from future capital purchases (i.e. fire trucks, ambulances and other specialized equipment such as tools to cut open vehicles and defibrillators) or the building and land value.