Braidwood fire tax hike draws scrutiny over costs, referendum outreach

(The Center Square) – A proposed Braidwood Fire Protection District tax increase that would raise its annual property tax extension by nearly 87% is drawing scrutiny over the cost to taxpayers and the district’s use of outside consultants for public outreach.

The district estimates its annual tax extension would rise from about $2.82 million to $5.26 million if voters approve the measure Nov. 3. The district’s limiting tax rate would increase from 0.3693% to 0.6893%.

Americans for Prosperity Illinois Deputy State Director Brian Costin questioned the district’s description of the proposal as a 32-cent property tax increase, arguing the framing could minimize its overall impact.

“The first thing that jumped out to me was in their press release. They said it's a $0.32 property tax increase proposal. They don't need a property tax referendum to increase property taxes by $0.32,” Costin said.

The district says the 32 cents represents the proposed increase per $100 of equalized assessed value. Based on the district’s estimates, a home with a $300,000 fair market value would see an additional $320 annually before exemptions, or about $6.15 per week.

“We don't pay our property taxes in a week. We pay them over a year, usually twice a year,” Costin said.

Fire Chief Chris Jude said the increase is needed to address rising emergency calls, staffing shortages and costly equipment replacements. The district responded to 2,239 calls in 2025, more than double its 2010 total, Jude said. Equipment replacement needs are estimated at $3.7 million over five years.

Officials point to a $1.08 million federal grant, in-house maintenance and cooperative purchasing as cost-saving measures but say those efforts are insufficient to meet long-term needs.

Questions have also emerged about the district’s engagement with Discovery Works Collaborative. District board minutes from July 21, 2026, say Discovery Works Collaborative presented survey results to help assess support for a potential referendum, according to Costin’s review of district records. The board later approved placing the tax question on the ballot.

Costin also cited workshop comments suggesting officials focus on service users and avoid spending time persuading definite opponents. He said the comments raise questions about campaign strategy but do not prove district employees acted on the suggestions.

District records show two $6,167 payments to Discovery Works in October 2025 and July 2026. The firm’s contract and deliverables would help clarify the scope of its taxpayer-funded work. 

Discovery Works Collaborative advertises referendum campaign strategy and voter outreach among its services on its website. That raises questions about the scope of its work for the district and whether its taxpayer-funded outreach remained separate from political advocacy. The firm’s advertised services alone do not establish that it provided campaign strategy to Braidwood.

Thomas “TJ” Sforza, a Braidwood resident who served as a community co-chair of the planning process, said the recommendation came directly from residents who participated in the workshops. Sforza is also treasurer of Citizens for Braidwood Fire Protection District Ballot Initiative Committee, a political action committee supporting the referendum.

Costin questioned whether taxpayer-funded outreach could cross into political activity.

“They appear to be skirting the line. Were they engaging in efforts to target persuadable voters, recruit supportive service users and develop messaging to secure approval of the referendum?” said Costin. “Now, these are comments from participants, not proof that district employees adopted or acted on that advice. But if facilitators paid by the district were soliciting campaign strategy, the question is whether that advice was used.”

Residents say they’ve received text messages about the referendum paid for by the PAC, whose treasurer also served on the district’s planning committee.

The Yes for Braidwood Fire Protection District committee said it is an independent ballot initiative committee formed to advocate for the district’s November referendum.

The committee said a text message vendor provided phone numbers for voter outreach and that the committee paid for the message. It projects spending about $9,500 on voter outreach, with detailed expenditures to be disclosed in its next quarterly report.

The committee also said it is unaware of any concerns raised by Americans for Prosperity Illinois.

The district said it has not coordinated with any political action committee or organization supporting or opposing the referendum and has not produced or paid for advocacy materials. It said employees may participate in political activity only in their personal capacities and on their own time, and that it consulted legal counsel. The district said it had received no ethics complaints or formal legal challenges.

Costin also questioned whether the district’s outreach raised concerns under Illinois ethics rules governing political activity by public employees. Whether those rules apply depends on the facts, including the work performed and how public resources were used.

Jude said rising emergency calls, staffing requirements and equipment costs leave the district facing long-term funding needs. A fire engine that cost about $650,000 in 2018 cost roughly $1.1 million in 2025, while ambulance costs rose from about $245,000 to $450,000 over the same period.

If voters reject the measure, the district would remain under its existing tax-rate limit, leaving officials to manage staffing and future equipment needs within current revenue constraints.