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Alderman asks council to revisit fire department capital fund split
Summary
Alderman Stacy asked the council to re-examine the allocation in chapter 2-42.53 that currently routes 54% of certain earnings to the city and 46% to the fire department capital fund; she proposed increasing the share retained by the fire department to ensure capital needs are met without additional city funding.
Alderman Cecilia Stacy raised concerns about chapter 2-42.53, the ordinance governing the Fire Department Capital Fund, and urged the council to revisit how related revenues are split between the city and the department.
Stacy said current practice leaves 46% of earnings in the fire department capital fund while the city retains 54%, and she asked the council to consider changing that allocation so the fire department can better maintain its capital needs without repeatedly seeking additional city funding. "We need to relook at this," she said, suggesting a more favorable split for the fire fund — for example, increasing the department's share to 60%.
Attorney Zito sought clarification and corrected a misstatement when Stacy initially referenced the police chief rather than the fire chief. Alderman Sanders again spoke about council oversight responsibilities and urged the body to examine oversight and policy more broadly while maintaining focus on the fire-fund item.
No ordinance change was enacted at the meeting; discussion closed for the evening and the item will require further study if the council chooses to pursue a change to chapter 2-42.53.
