Excerpts from an editorial on chicagotribune.com:
The city of Highwood, Illinois is exploring a new approach to staffing its fire department by considering the use of personnel from a private firefighting company. Officials are keen to reassure residents that public safety will remain a top priority throughout this process.
City Manager Scott Coren explained that financial constraints and a limited tax base—covering less than a square mile—are key reasons behind this move. He said, “Highwood needs to keep our current service costs low so we can invest in improving our infrastructure, like roads and sidewalks.†Mayor Charles Pecaro added, “With the state’s uncertain financial situation, we need to run a sustainable city, especially with rising pension and workers’ compensation costs.â€
This isn’t the first time Highwood has turned to outside contractors. Services such as snow removal, park maintenance, building inspections, payroll, financial planning, fuel services, and police dispatching have all been managed by third-party providers for years.
“Outsourcing has worked well for us before,†Coren said. “We’re now looking at the possibility of delivering fire services through contractors while maintaining strict standards. We’ll ensure all contracted employees are properly certified and meet our requirements.â€
By saving money through outsourcing, the city hopes to address pressing infrastructure issues, including road and sidewalk repairs. “We’ve had to raise taxes in the past to cover these costs,†Coren noted. “If we don’t make smart decisions like this one, we’ll be forced to raise taxes again. We need to be responsible with every dollar we collect.â€
Thanks, Chris
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