IL City Cuts Nearly Half of FD's Operating Budget

Nearly half of the Springfield Fire Department's operating budget was slashed Tuesday and the Springfield City Council added on eight amendments that directly affected the Fiscal Year 2022 corporate fund budget before giving its final approval on a 9-1 vote.

That vote capped a nearly four-and-a-half-hour evening that started with a Committee of the Whole meeting then went to a public hearing session before the special city council meeting.

It was also the last meeting for Ward 3 Ald. Doris Turner. Turner was selected by the 48th Legislative District Committee on Feb. 6 to fill Sen. Andy Manar's seat in the Illinois Senate.

Aldermen early on trimmed $1.4 million from the fire department on a 6-4 vote. Later on, a proposal to restore $500,000 in overtime pay proposed by Ward 8 Ald. Erin Conley was defeated in an 8-2 vote.

As he strode up to the chamber microphone at the beckoning of Mayor Jim Langfelder, fire chief Brandon Blough quipped, "It's been awesome night. Thanks for having me."

After the meeting, Blough, who took over as chief from Allen Reyne on Dec. 15, was a little more sobering.

"The cut, I don't know if it's overcome-able without sending people home," Blough said, referring to layoffs. "I think that was probably why that number was set. I'm going to do everything in my power to keep everybody at work. But they've put the fire department in a position where it's going to be really hard.

"Over 90 percent of (the department's $41.5 million budget) is personnel costs, so I don't know where $1.4 million is going to come from, but we're going to come in Wednesday and start looking at it."

The $3 million in operating costs, Blough explained, is for things like diesel fuel for fire trucks, keeping the lights on in fire houses and buying medical supplies.

More than a dozen firefighters filled seats in city council chambers in a show of support. Earlier, Vince Zummo, the new president of the local firefighters union, made an impassioned plea for the city administration and union to enter into "a new era of trust."

Ward 1 Ald. Chuck Redpath, who introduced the amendment, said the money would have to come from across the board and downplayed layoffs or closing fire houses.

"We do have to be fiscally responsible," Redpath said. "We only have a small pot of money that we can use to support our services for police, fire and public works out of the general revenue fund and this is one area we have to make some changes in."

Ward 8 Ald. Erin Conley said she had "significant concerns" to a change to one of "the basic services our citizens expect" in the city.

"As a representative from my ward, I feel it would be a dangerous setting to put such a cut into our fire department," Conley said.

Later, Conley briefly withdrew an amendment increasing overtime for the fire department by $500,000, based on the earlier vote, but then reconsidered and presented it after Blough's talk.

Still, Turner was the only other council member to vote for the amendment.

"Look, you have your plate full," said Redpath, addressing Blough. "This is a tough situation. (The police department and public works) have made their cuts. You haven't."

In all, the amendments shaved off $675,000 off the corporate fund budget, said city budget director Bill McCarty.

The council approved $300,000 to pay for overtime and other costs incurred for proposed maternity and paternity leave for city employees.

Conley said she has asked corporation counsel to draft an ordinance for the council's consideration.

The four weeks paid leave would cover all city employees, union or non-union, who have been on the payroll for at least one year.

"I think it's an important addition to our terms of employment for the city," Conley said.

The council set side $200,000 for the purchase of two real estate properties due to the Springfield Rail Improvements Project.

"We should be doing right by the citizens of Springfield," said Ward 6 Ald. Kristin DiCenso.

A separate ordinance, noted both Redpath and Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin, is required to purchase any property.

Another amendment put $100,00 into the public works budget for contractual snow removal services.

That comes after a Presidents Day storm dumped almost six inches of snow on Springfield. Several council members said they fielded a number of phone calls about plowed roads.

Hanauer said the use contractors frees public works manpower to do the main roads quicker.

Redpath, who proposed the amendment, joked that he was going to buy a snowblower "so it won't snow for the next year."

Turner leaves the council after serving for 10 years.

Mayor Langfelder said he hoped to seat Turner's replacement by the March 2 meeting.

Ward 10 Ald. Ralph Hanauer said while council members may differing political views, "we are non-partisan for the city."

"I think she's going to be great for the City of Springfield (as State Senator)," Hanauer added. "I'm going to miss her on the council because she's shown me how to work with people even better and, of course, compromise and how you have to get things done."

Turner, who was presented a plaque and given a standing ovation by council members, said it has been "the pleasure and honor of my life to serve the residents of Ward 3 on the city council.

"I never imagined that life would bring me on this journey, but I'm absolutely happy that it did," Turner added. "I feel like I've served with some fantastic people who have partnered with me and we have definitely moved Springfield forward every step of the way."

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