The Chicago Tribune recently published an article discussing a potential collaboration among the fire and EMS departments of Highwood, Highland Park, Lake Forest, and Lake Bluff. The four communities are considering forming a task force in early 2013 to explore ways to reduce costs through shared services, including the merging of fire protection and emergency medical services for their combined population of around 60,000 residents.
This move aligns with a growing national trend toward consolidation, which could save the cities between $1 million and $1.8 million each year, according to a study by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). Currently, each department operates independently, with varying levels of service and coordination. For instance, Lake Forest handles its own fire and EMS, as well as police dispatch, while also providing ambulance services to Lake Bluff. Highwood relies on Lake Forest for police dispatch and uses the Regional Emergency Dispatch (RED) system for fire and EMS. Highland Park, which handles nearly 2,000 fire and EMS calls annually, manages all its public safety dispatch internally.
The ICMA report outlines three possible options for consolidation: functional, operational, and full. Functional consolidation would allow the departments to work together on specific services while remaining separate entities. Operational consolidation would involve merging operations and administration under one agency, though legal separation might still exist. Full consolidation would mean merging all four departments into a single entity, effectively removing jurisdictional boundaries.
Leonard Matarese, director of research and project development at the ICMA Center for Public Safety Management, explained that traditional models have relied on 24/7 staffing, but recent data shows that demand fluctuates throughout the day. In England, for example, staffing is now adjusted based on peak and off-peak hours. Fires and EMS calls typically occur during the day, with a noticeable drop after 9 or 10 p.m.
According to the study, both functional and operational consolidation could save the communities between $950,000 and $1.5 million annually, while full consolidation could result in savings ranging from $1.4 million to $1.95 million. However, challenges such as political considerations, financial constraints, labor contracts, and retirement systems may complicate the process.
Despite these hurdles, the four cities are already collaborating to some extent, sharing resources, purchasing equipment jointly, and standardizing procedures. As they move forward, the decision will likely depend on balancing cost savings with service quality and community needs.
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