Here's an update from DailyHerald.com:
Barrington has filed a lawsuit against the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District, accusing it of withholding over $1.2 million owed to a shared firefighters' pension fund. In response, the fire district insists it holds no responsibility for these funds.
The lawsuit alleges that upon the fire district's separation from the village-operated fire department in December 2013, the pension fund was already short by $1.9 million. According to village officials, the fire district's leadership had agreed back in 2005 to cover 64.25% of "fire services costs," including pensions. At the time of the split, this commitment translated into over $1.2 million owed to the pension fund. Additionally, the village is demanding over $800,000 from the district for long-term disability insurance costs. The total could be even higher, as the lawsuit argues that fire district officials requested a recalculated estimate of the pension liabilities using a state-mandated formula, which brought the figure to over $2 million. A judge will need to decide not only if the fire district owes the village anything, but also whether the amount should remain at $1.2 million or rise to the recalculated $2 million.
Village Manager Jeff Lawler commented, "This situation is unfortunate, but it's something they brought upon themselves... For nearly two decades before the split, they consistently underpaid according to this formula."
Village authorities mentioned they have been sending invoices to the fire district since the separation, yet the district has declined to settle the full amount the village claims is due. Last June, the village returned a $14,000 check the district had sent.
Prior to the split, the fire district paid the village for fire protection services. However, in the years leading up to the separation, the district's board grew increasingly critical of how the village managed the fire department. When the renewal of the intergovernmental agreement came around, both parties decided to go separate ways, dividing equipment and other assets.
Lawler added that the separation agreement explicitly stated the district would receive a bill for all unfunded pension obligations, likely reaching into the millions.
The lawsuit further seeks compensation for legal fees incurred during the village's efforts to recover retirement and disability benefits from the fire district.
According to the fire district's latest audit, it currently holds over $2.5 million in reserves. Most of its $5.9 million in revenue in 2014—around $5.6 million—came from property taxes. However, the audit shows expenses exceeded $6.2 million last year. The audit acknowledges the village's invoices but maintains that the district's internal calculations show no liability for the pension fund, offering no solutions to resolve the conflict.
Regarding the long-term disability debt, the district's audit argued that payments should be made as claims are processed, rather than based on a hypothetical total lifetime cost that might end up being lower.
Thanks, Dan!
It seems like this legal battle between Barrington and the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District is far from over. With millions at stake and differing interpretations of agreements from over a decade ago, it’s likely to be a lengthy process. The village appears determined to recover what it considers rightfully theirs, while the fire district continues to push back. As both sides dig in, it raises questions about how such disputes can be resolved fairly and efficiently in similar situations moving forward.
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