Eldridge Fire And Rescue Dept

07/16/2026

To the Eldridge Fire District community,

The Eldridge Volunteer Fire Department is proposing a transition from a dues-based funding system to a tax-supported fire protection district. If approved, the department will become the Eldridge Fire Protection District.

The proposed tax levy is $0.33 per $100 of assessed value on both real and personal property. This would provide an estimated annual operating budget of $70,000 to $75,000.

Currently, the department serves more than 1,500 households across over 91 square miles. Although every household benefits from our services, only about 25% of residents currently pay annual dues. Those dues generate approximately $19,735 each year. When combined with fundraisers, grants, and donations, our total annual revenue is approximately $32,633.

During the last fiscal year, our operating expenses exceeded our annual income by $3,900. We were only able to cover that shortfall because we had funds remaining from the previous fiscal year. Unfortunately, this is not a sustainable way to operate.

Providing dependable fire protection requires reliable funding. Our current budget must cover firefighter training, maintenance and repairs to fire apparatus, replacement of protective gear, equipment, and other essential operating expenses. Simply put, our current funding is no longer enough to adequately support the department or meet the growing needs of our community.

Transitioning to a tax-supported fire protection district would provide a stable and predictable source of funding. It would allow us to maintain and repair our fire apparatus, replace worn or outdated protective gear, provide ongoing firefighter training, purchase fuel and equipment, maintain our station, and cover other necessary operating expenses. Most importantly, it would help ensure that the Eldridge Fire Protection District can continue providing reliable emergency services to our community for years to come.

We have submitted the signed petitions to Laclede County, and they have informed us that we need 40 additional signatures to move forward with the tax base proposal.

If you have not yet signed a petition, we encourage you to do so as soon as possible. Please contact Steve at (417) 991-9828 to arrange a time to sign.

Thank you for your continued support of the Eldridge Volunteer Fire Department.

06/16/2026

06/07/2026

Saturday June 13th from 3pm to 6pm the Eldridge Volunteer Fire Department will be hosting our annual board meeting and open house. Come on out and show your support for your local volunteer fire department. This will also be the final chance to sign the petition for the department to go tax based. Everyone who lives in the district is invited to come out and ask questions and meet your fire fighters. We will be serving hot dogs, drinks, and chips at no cost to the public

05/30/2026

Eldridge volunteer fire department is at Mike's Country Store today from 10am to 2pm for the petition signing for a tax based district. Come sign up, support your local fire department, and get answers to your questions about tax based departments

05/17/2026

Eldridge Volunteer Fire Department spent time today with Tri-County Fire and Nebo/Falcon Fire Department training on CPR and AED use for emergency scenes to help protect our communities

04/12/2026

This week is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, a time to recognize the people who are often the first voice you hear in an emergency.

Public safety telecommunicators work around the clock 24/7, serving as the critical link between our community and police, fire, and EMS. From answering 911 calls to dispatching the right resources, their role is essential in every emergency response.

We’d like to thank our Laclede Central Dispatch for the work they do every day. We appreciate their professionalism, dedication, and the support they provide to both our crews and the community. 💛

02/05/2026

Ok eldridge community we have a date set up to talk to the community about the petition feb 20th at 3pm we will be at the eldridge store