What Pontoon Beach Residents Should Know About the Long Lake Fire Protection District Referendums

GraniteCityGossip.com, February 17, 2026

Residents who live within the Long Lake Fire Protection District, the majority in Pontoon Beach, will see two separate referendum questions on the March 17 primary ballot.

Although the questions look similar, they serve different purposes and would have different effects on local taxes. Understanding the distinction can help voters make an informed decision.

Both of these questions are advisory only. Voters are not approving an immediate tax increase on this ballot. Instead, the district is asking whether residents support exploring these changes, with any actual tax decisions requiring future action by the Board of Trustees. A YES vote does not create an immediate tax change.

The first question asks whether the district should increase the maximum allowable tax rate for fire protection. The exact wording on the ballot reads:

“Shall the maximum allowable rate for the Long Lake Fire Protection District, Madison County, Illinois, be increased from .30% to .40% of the value of all taxable property within the District as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue?”

This question deals with the existing fire protection tax.

The district already collects this tax today. A “yes” vote would not automatically raise the tax to 0.40%, but it would raise the ceiling, the highest rate the district is legally allowed to levy in the future.

The second question is entirely separate and asks whether the district should create a new tax dedicated specifically to ambulance and EMT services. The ballot wording is:

“Shall the Board of Trustees of the Long Lake Fire Protection District, Madison County, Illinois, 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 purpose of providing an emergency ambulance service?”

This is a new tax that does not exist today. If approved, it would add a new line to the tax bill, and the funds could only be used for ambulance operations.

A simple way to understand the difference is this:

The fire protection tax already exists; the vote would raise its maximum limit.

The ambulance tax does not exist; the vote would create it. Two different purposes, two different taxes, and two separate votes.

For homeowners trying to understand the financial impact, a $100,000 home offers a clear example. In Illinois, residential property is assessed at one‑third of its market value, so a $100,000 home has an assessed value of about $33,333. At the current 0.30% fire protection rate, the annual cost is roughly $100.

If the maximum rate increases to 0.40%, the cost would rise to about $133, an increase of approximately $33 per year.

If the new ambulance tax is approved at its maximum rate of 0.40%, it would add another $133 per year.

If both measures were levied at their full rates, the total possible increase would be about $166 annually, or roughly $13.80 per month. Actual amounts could be lower depending on the rate the district ultimately chooses to levy.

To help residents understand these proposals, the Long Lake Fire Protection District is holding three public informational meetings at the firehouse. These meetings are open to everyone in the district. All meetings will take place at the Long Lake Firehouse, located at 4113 Pontoon Road in Pontoon Beach, on the following dates:

Thursday, February 19 at 6:00 PM
Saturday, February 28 at 10:00 AM
Thursday, March 12 at 6:00 PM

These sessions give residents the opportunity to ask questions directly and learn how the proposals may affect local fire and ambulance services.

As Election Day approaches, Pontoon Beach residents are encouraged to review the ballot questions carefully, consider the potential impact on their household, and attend one of the informational meetings if they would like to learn more before voting on March 17.