Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:
A legal battle has erupted between the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District and the village over a $1.2 million debt related to a shared firefighters' pension fund. The lawsuit, filed by the village on Wednesday, claims the fire district is refusing to pay what it owes, citing an unpaid balance of at least that amount.
The fire district, however, disputes this, stating in its audit that it has no liability for the pension fund. According to the suit, when the fire district separated from the village-run fire department on December 31, 2013, the pension fund was already short by $1.9 million. Village officials argue that in 2005, the fire district's leaders had agreed to cover 64.25% of all "fire services costs," including pensions—amounting to more than $1.2 million at the time of the split. In addition, the village is seeking over $800,000 in long-term disability insurance costs from the district.
The financial burden could be even higher. The lawsuit also claims that fire district officials requested the village to recalculate the pension liabilities using a state-mandated funding formula, which increased the total owed to over $2 million. A judge will now need to determine not only if the fire district owes money but also whether it’s the original $1.2 million or the newly calculated $2 million figure.
Village Manager Jeff Lawler said, “This is unfortunate, but it’s their doing. For 19 years before the split, they paid under this formula.â€
The village has sent multiple invoices to the district since the separation, but the fire district has refused to pay the full amount. Last June, the village returned a $14,000 check from the district.
Before the split, the fire district paid the village to provide fire protection services. However, in the years leading up to the separation, the district's board grew increasingly dissatisfied with how the village managed the department. When the intergovernmental agreement came up for renewal, both sides decided to dissolve the partnership and divide equipment and other assets.
Lawler noted that the separation agreement specifically mentioned that the district would be responsible for all unfunded pension obligations, which could reach into the seven figures. The lawsuit also includes a request for reimbursement of legal costs incurred by the village in trying to recover retirement and disability benefits from the district.
According to the fire district’s most recent audit, the district has more than $2.5 million in reserves. In 2014, it generated nearly $5.9 million in revenue, mostly from property taxes—$5.6 million of that. However, the district spent over $6.2 million last year, according to the audit.
The audit acknowledges the village’s invoices but states that the district does not assume any liability for the pension fund. It provides no clear resolution for the dispute. Regarding the long-term disability payments, the district argues that its payments should align with when the village pays claims, rather than assuming the full lifetime cost, which may end up being lower.
Thanks, Dan
Glass Bathroom Accessory Sets,White Bathing Set Glass Bottle,Grass Green Bathing Set Glass Bottle,Emerald Green Bath Set Glass Bottle
MingHui Houseware Company Limited , https://www.minghuihousewareltd.com