20100927 PR - Citizens Finance Advisory Committee recommends cost cuts in FireCoract David Niemeyer 1200 Oak Brook Road
Phone: 630-368-5020 Oak Brook, It 60523
dnie eyer@oak-brook.org
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Citizens Finance Advisory Committee Meeting Comments
Oak Brook, Illinois (September 27,2010)— The Village of Oak Brook has received a number of
questions about comments concerning the Village's fire department made at the September 22, 2010
Citizens Finance Advisory Committee meeting. During each Finance Committee meeting, a place is
reserved on the agenda for residents to make comments about any issue relating to the Village's
finances. At this meeting, one resident made a suggestion that the Village terminate one firefighter per
month to reduce costs in the department.
The committee and the Village Board have expressed concerns about controlling expenses in the fire
department, the increasing costs of pensions and salary increases in the department, and the lack of
flexibility the Village has to make changes in the department due to the current union contract. The
Total value of salaries, benefits and time off for Oak Brook's lowest paid firefighter is just over
$100,000, and over $200,000 for the Village's highest paid firefighter.
The Village's Citizens Finance Advisory Committee is composed of five citizens of the Village who
have backgrounds in the private sector. The committee was established last year and has made a
number of recommendations that have helped control costs in the Village budget.
About the Village of Oak Brook:
Founded in 1958, the Village of Oak Brook is located 20 miles west of downtown Chicago and is in proximity
to the junction of Interstates 88, 294, and 290. The Village consists mostly of residential subdivisions, with the
exception of the Oakbrook Center shopping mall, other retail and office properties along 22nd Street and
Interstate 88. Oak Brook is the home of many corporate offices, most notably, the world headquarters of
McDonald's Corporation and the service club organization Lions Clubs International. Oak Brook is also
known for being one of the few municipalities in the Chicago area that do not levy a property tax on residents
or businesses.
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