South Jacksonville Seeks Fire Protection District, Vote Planned April 2026
The South Jacksonville Fire Department requested placement of a resolution on the April 2026 ballot to create a formal fire protection district, replacing the current subscription based funding model for rural coverage. The change would create an aggregate tax base of about $475,000 annually to pay for upgraded equipment and part time staffing, a shift that could affect response reliability and local property tax funding.
On December 8 the South Jacksonville Fire Department filed a request to place a resolution on the April 2026 ballot that would establish a formal fire protection district for its service area. The proposal would replace the department's current subscription based funding for rural coverage, which presently charges an annual subscription fee of $100 to rural homeowners.
Department leaders say the district model would generate an aggregate tax base of roughly $475,000 each year. That revenue is intended to fund upgraded equipment and to address chronic gaps in daytime staffing. Chief Rich Evans Jr. said the volunteer department struggles with daytime coverage because many volunteers work full time. The additional revenue could be used to hire part time personnel so responses are more reliable throughout the day.
The formal process will include a public hearing before Judge Chris Reif at the Morgan County Courthouse at 10 a.m. on December 15. If the judge approves placement of the referendum on the April ballot, the department plans a series of town hall meetings early in 2026 to explain the proposal and answer questions from residents before the vote.
The proposal marks a significant shift in how fire protection is financed in the rural parts of South Jacksonville. Under the subscription based model residents pay a flat fee for coverage, while a district funded by property tax would spread costs across a broader tax base and provide predictable annual revenue for capital and personnel needs. For many rural households the change would mean transitioning from the $100 subscription to funding through property tax assessments, though exact levy figures and impacts on individual tax bills would be determined later if voters approve the district.
For Morgan County residents the referendum raises practical trade offs between steady funding for improved emergency services and the prospect of ongoing property tax obligations. The hearing and planned town halls will provide an early opportunity for voters to evaluate those trade offs and to hold local leaders accountable for budgeting and service commitments before the April ballot.
