By Heather McDonald

The Park Ridge Village Board will make a decision this month on wording for a referendum seeking direction from residents on what to do with the volunteer Fire Department, and regardless of referendum results, taxes will rise.

The board voted to table a decision on referendum wording for the third time in the past couple of months after learning estimated tax rate impacts Monday, Nov. 20. Instead, board members agreed to “hammer it out” Monday, Dec. 11. In order to meet the deadline for the referendum to appear on the February ballot, the board must turn in questions by Wednesday, Dec. 13.

Regardless of which option residents choose, taxes will increase, board members said. However, they would like input from village residents on whether to continue its own fire protection services or eliminate the volunteer fire department altogether.

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