Excerpts from the Chicago Sun-Times:
According to an audit conducted by Inspector General Joe Ferguson, Chicago taxpayers are footing a bill of $5 million annually for a uniform allowance provided to firefighters. This allowance seems more like an automatic cash bonus since it isn't tied to any real assessment of need or usage. Ferguson's report highlights how this expenditure has become detached from its original purpose.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel initially sought to address several long-standing union benefits back in 2014, including the clothing allowance, holiday pay, duty availability pay, various pay grades, premium pay, lay-up coverage, a physical fitness incentive, and a 7% premium for cross-trained firefighter-paramedics. However, he later withdrew these demands before the election, resulting in a new five-year contract that granted firefighters, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians an 11% wage increase over five years. This agreement also ended free healthcare for retirees aged 55 to 65.
Ferguson is now focusing his attention on the uniform allowance, scrutinizing its issuance, exchanges, and repair processes within the Chicago Fire Department's Commissary, a store managed by an external contractor under a $11.7 million, five-year contract set to expire in 2019. While firefighters receive free uniforms and replacements if items are lost, stolen, or damaged due to negligence or significant weight changes, they also receive a uniform allowance—either $1,250 or $1,500 based on their role—to cover maintenance and cleaning costs.
When comparing Chicago’s approach to other major cities such as New York City, Philadelphia, Toronto, Dallas, San Diego, and Indianapolis, Ferguson noted that Chicago issues fewer uniforms to new hires and spends less per person. Yet, the uniform allowance remains exceptionally generous compared to other cities. Ferguson emphasized that this allowance, supposedly meant for uniform upkeep, lacks any real connection to actual requirements or usage patterns. Furthermore, there's no oversight regarding how firefighters utilize these funds post-distribution, making the allowance resemble a straightforward cash bonus rather than a necessary expense.
The audit reviewed 58,257 transactions amounting to $1.7 million over a year until June 30, 2015, finding that 99.9% complied with departmental policies. However, $535,757 from 2012 and 2013 expenditures originated from a grant source not included in the initial budget proposal, a practice the department plans to rectify moving forward for greater transparency.
In response to the findings, Fire Commissioner Jose Santiago implemented several reforms, such as banning firefighters and paramedics from purchasing uniforms for others and adjusting when candidate paramedics receive their uniforms during training to prevent unnecessary expenses for those who eventually leave. Additionally, the commissary vendor must now consider past usage records before approving new purchases to minimize overbuying or excessive exchanges.
Ferguson previously suggested that replacing certain firefighting roles with civilians could save at least $1.2 million yearly and possibly millions more in overtime costs. One position identified for civilianization was the commissary liaison role, currently held by a CFD captain.
These adjustments aim to enhance fiscal responsibility while maintaining essential services, ensuring taxpayer dollars are utilized efficiently and transparently.
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