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Palatine Rural FPD to sell ad space on apparatus
The *Daily Herald* recently published an article detailing a new revenue initiative by the Palatine Rural Fire Protection District (PRFPD). The district is preparing to become one of the first fire services in Illinois to sell advertising space on its emergency vehicles, including fire trucks and ambulances. This move comes at a critical time, as the district recently lost a bid for a tax increase and is facing rising call volumes alongside declining property tax revenues.
Chief Hank Clemmensen admitted the situation is dire. “We’re kind of in a desperate situation here,†he said. “The money from these ads will be essential for our operations.†He emphasized that the advertisements will be designed to be tasteful and professional, with placement limited to the sides near the rear of the district’s sole fire truck and the back of its only ambulance. “It’s not going to look like a race car,†he added, noting that he will have final approval over the design.
The PRFPD is working with Arizona-based Public Safety Advertising, a company founded by a firefighter who aims to help departments generate income without increasing taxpayer burdens. Clemmensen has been considering this option for some time, as the district has seen a steady decline in funding. From 2012 to 2013 alone, the district lost $300,000 — a 9% drop — due to budget cuts and reduced tax income.
Earlier this month, voters rejected a proposed tax hike that would have brought in an additional $200,000 annually. Only around 1,100 of the district’s nearly 20,000 registered voters participated in the referendum, with about 54% voting against it. Even if the tax increase had passed, Clemmensen said he planned to move forward with the ad campaign, which was unanimously approved by the board on March 10. Now, with the financial gap widening, the need for alternative revenue sources has never been greater.
According to estimates from Public Safety Advertising, the PRFPD could generate between $20,000 and $25,000 per year from the ad placements. While the idea may seem unconventional, it reflects a growing trend across the country, as more fire departments explore creative ways to fund their operations.
Other fire departments across the U.S. have also started selling ad space on their vehicles. These include the Apache Junction Fire Department, the New York Times, ABC15Arizona, AZFamily.com, MyFoxPhoenix.com, ABC2Baltimore, and Callthecops.net.
Thanks, Dan.