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Area fire departments and districts seeking new revenue streams (more)
The Better Government Association recently published an editorial addressing a concerning trend among several regional fire departments: charging non-residents for assistance provided during motor vehicle accidents. One of the key roles of the Better Government Association is to identify potential red flags that might indicate looming issues. With that in mind, I’d like to highlight a recent investigation conducted by the BGA, which sheds light on a troubling issue affecting numerous Chicago-area fire departments—though not due to any actual fire incidents.
Instead, this alert focuses on a growing and potentially problematic shift in emergency services, where victims of car accidents are being asked to contribute to municipal budgets. This practice is often referred to as a "crash tax," and it's becoming increasingly common as fire departments face financial struggles.
Our investigation revealed that at least fifteen municipalities in Cook County are now billing non-residents following emergency responses to accidents. This means that if you're involved in a car crash, you could receive a bill for the firefighting services rendered, even if the accident was minor or not your fault.
Some departments charge based on an hourly rate—anywhere from $250 to $400 per engine dispatched, plus $35 to $75 per firefighter—while others impose flat fees that range from $435 to $2,200, depending on the complexity of the situation. These charges apply whether the incident involves serious injuries requiring rescue operations or simpler tasks like managing traffic, clearing debris, or waiting for a tow truck.
Traditionally, these services were funded through local property taxes and considered part of the municipal services provided by the responding department. However, as towns and villages search for additional revenue sources, they've begun sending invoices to auto insurance companies to cover the cost of emergency responses. The idea is to offset the expenses of maintaining a fire department by billing the insurers of accident victims.
But what happens when the driver lacks insurance or the claim gets denied? In some instances, unpaid bills are handed over to collection agencies. Take the case of Daryl Jenkins Jr., from the west suburb of Berkeley. Last year, Jenkins received a bill after a small fire erupted under the hood of his SUV. His brother, who was driving at the time, had called 911 for help. The Broadview Fire Department arrived promptly, extinguishing the flames within 11 minutes, according to the incident report. Despite this quick response, Jenkins was billed $390 for one engine and four firefighters ($250 per hour for the engine and $35 each for the firefighters).
The Broadview Fire Department defends its policy, arguing that non-residents don’t contribute to the village’s property taxes and therefore shouldn’t expect free emergency services. Other departments echo this reasoning, even though these fees represent only a small portion of the overall operational costs of running a fire station.
While it’s undeniable that maintaining fire stations is costly, we aren’t suggesting that first responders alter their duties. However, this practice raises several significant concerns:
Firstly, targeting individuals already dealing with the emotional and physical aftermath of an accident, especially those unable to afford such unexpected charges, feels exploitative. Letting collection agencies pursue these debts further compounds the problem.
Secondly, there’s the risk of abuse. Fire departments might dispatch more vehicles, personnel, and equipment than necessary just to inflate the final bill.
Thirdly, the system is inherently arbitrary, depending heavily on the decisions of insurance companies to approve or reject claims. If these claims are denied, the burden falls entirely on the victim.
We fully recognize the necessity of finding innovative ways to generate income without allowing property taxes to spiral out of control. However, if more fire departments decide to charge for emergency services, we must implement safeguards to shield accident victims from receiving surprise bills that compound their distress.
Thanks, Dan.