Hoffman Estates police officers, firefighters to lose jobs

Despite impassioned pleas by dozens of police officers, firefighters and community members alike, Hoffman Estates officials unanimously recommended approving a 2010 budget that will lay off 10 public safety personnel.

Wednesday's vote followed a four-hour special finance committee meeting, most of which was spent fighting for the jobs of the four junior police officers and six newest firefighters with targets on their backs. The budget still has to be formally approved by the board on Dec. 7, but those in attendance believe the cuts are inevitable.

"I hope at the eleventh hour they're able to work something out, but it doesn't seem likely," said Trustee Cary Collins, who voted to recommend the budget but opposes the layoffs.

The overall 2010 budget will decrease 11.6 percent to $113.6 million, while the general operating budget will shrink 2.9 percent to $44.5 million. Balancing the funds includes taking more than $1.1 million from savings.

From declining real estate transfer taxes and sales taxes to building permits and interest income, Village Manager Jim Norris presented a dire picture of the revenue stream trickling into Hoffman Estates. Money from the state sales tax, for example, is projected to fall $800,000 from 2008 to $6.3 million.

Back in July, the fire and police unions were charged with trimming about $400,000 from each department to help fill a $1.6 million to $1.8 million hole.

Flo Williams, head of the police union, said they offered to give up raises until September 2010 and forgo overtime pay, but that the plan was rejected.

Similarly, fire union representatives said they proposed offering voluntary separation plans to 12 eligible firefighters nearing retirement, but the idea was nixed by trustees.

"We didn't believe savings were there that needed to be," Norris said.