Highwood may supplement manning with contract personnel (more)

The city of Highwood, Illinois, is exploring the possibility of bringing in private firefighting contractors to support its local fire department. Officials are emphasizing that public safety will remain a top priority throughout this process.

City Manager Scott Coren explained that budget constraints and a limited tax base—due to the city's small geographic size—are key reasons behind seeking proposals from private firms. “We need to keep our current service costs under control so we can invest in improving infrastructure like streets and sidewalks,” he said. Mayor Charles Pecaro added, “With the state’s financial uncertainty, it’s more important than ever to run a sustainable city, especially with rising pension and workers’ compensation costs.”

This move follows a trend of outsourcing various city services, including snow removal, lawn maintenance, building inspections, payroll, financial planning, fuel services, and police dispatching. Now, the city is considering extending this model to its fire department.

“Outsourcing has worked well for us in the past,” said Coren. “We believe we can maintain high standards of safety and efficiency by working with qualified contractors. We will ensure all employees meet the necessary certifications and qualifications.”

Despite these changes, the city’s current fire department remains staffed by dedicated full-time and part-time firefighters. However, their pay is significantly lower than that of neighboring communities, which can lead to high turnover as employees seek better opportunities elsewhere. “All of the council members live in Highwood, and we would never put our neighbors or families at risk,” said Mayor Pecaro.

The goal is to use the cost savings from contracting out some services to address urgent infrastructure needs, such as road and sidewalk repairs. “We’ve had to raise taxes before to cover these expenses,” Coren noted. “If we don’t make smart decisions now, we’ll be forced to increase taxes again. We must be responsible with every dollar we have.”

Thanks, Chris

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