Lake Forest Fire Department news
Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:
The Lake Forest City Council is currently exploring strategies to manage the rising costs associated with operating its fire department, especially the growing pension expenses. According to a presentation at the October 3 city council meeting, the fire pension levy was $466,229 in 2005. This year, it has jumped to $1.2 million, and city officials predict it will reach $2.6 million by 2027.
When combined with police pension costs, total public safety expenditures are expected to reach $6.7 million in 2027. Firefighters contribute 9.45% of their salary to the pension fund, while police officers contribute 9.91%. Each department maintains its own pension fund, overseen by a five-member board and guided by professional investment advisors.
Elizabeth Holleb, the city's finance director, noted that the two pension funds hold approximately $60 million in total. She explained that during late 2015 and early 2016, the financial markets were struggling, which led to poor returns. "We closed the books on April 15 and saw very low returns," she said. "We assume a 7% return, but the actual performance was far below that."
Firefighter pension investments returned just 0.28%, while police pensions lost 1.64%, according to city records. The city is responsible for covering the shortfall. The 2017 fire department budget stands at $6.25 million, with 98% allocated to personnel costs. The department employs 35 full-time staff members, and the city has consistently met or exceeded state-mandated pension contributions, Holleb added.
In the past, the city has reduced staff through natural attrition. However, Holleb admitted that with the current lean staffing, further cuts have become increasingly difficult. "The problem is that we're so lean—making those kinds of reductions is not easy," she said.
City Manager Robert Kiely warned during the meeting that the cost of fire services is rising faster than the city’s ability to generate additional revenue. "If left unchanged, the growth of public safety pension obligations alone will require significant tax hikes and service cuts just to keep up," he said.
Alderman Stanford Tack read from a prepared letter stating, "The committee found no clear opportunities for revenue growth or fiscal efficiency within the fire department that could help address these unsustainable trends." In response, the city council directed staff to explore a quarterly fee of $10, or $40 annually, for residents. This would provide one to two years to study and implement long-term solutions.
The city is also considering collaboration with neighboring communities to potentially share fire services, though the details remain unclear. Mayor Don Schoenheider emphasized, "We will not compromise public safety under any circumstances."
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