Palatine firefighters forgo raises in one-year deal

Recognizing current budget woes and hoping next year’s fiscal outlook will prove brighter, the Palatine firefighters union recently agreed to forgo raises in a one-year contract with the village.

In exchange, the equivalent of 1 percent of base wages will be deferred to the department’s overtime budget, as will the savings from abbreviated contract negotiations.

Aaron Adams, president of Palatine Firefighters Local No. 4588, said he hopes the economy will improve and the union can lock in a multiyear deal in 2012.

In the meantime, the bigger overtime budget will ensure adequate staffing levels for a department that annually receives about 7,000 calls.

“This contract is in our best interest and the community’s best interest,” Adams said. “We’re continually running short (on staff) when there are two calls, so this is an offer that seemed reasonable to both our membership and management.”

The deal, approved by the Palatine village council and retroactive to Jan. 1, covers all full-time sworn personnel below the rank of battalion chief, or 86 members, Adams said. It increases the department’s overtime budget by 25 percent, or about $125,000, he added.

Palatine Village Manager Reid Ottesen agreed the contract allows the village to “better man the streets.”

The village budgeted for 98 full-time fire department positions in 2011, down from 100 two years ago. That includes 68 firefighter/paramedics, one fewer than in 2009. There also are three fewer part-time employees and a hiring freeze remains in place.

The contract comes shortly after Palatine approved a 2011 budget that includes a 3.99 percent levy hike to fund the village’s fire and police pension obligation. The measure is expected to cost homeowners an additional $40 on their annual property tax bills.