Excerpts from the ChicagoSunTimes.com:

Chicago taxpayers are spending $5 million annually on a uniform allowance for firefighters that functions more like an automatic cash bonus, according to a recent audit by Inspector General Joe Ferguson. The allowance is not tied to any actual need or use, he found.

Four years ago, Mayor Rahm Emanuel tried to cut several union benefits, including the clothing allowance, holiday pay, premium pay, and other perks. However, he eventually backed down from these demands in a pre-election contract that earned support from the Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2, which had previously backed his opponent in 2011.

The new five-year agreement includes an 11% pay raise for firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs over five years, but it also ends free health care for retirees between the ages of 55 and 65.

Now, Inspector General Ferguson is looking into the uniform allowance after an audit of the Chicago Fire Department’s Commissary—a store run by a private contractor that issues uniforms under a $11.7 million contract set to expire in 2019.

The city provides free uniforms and replacements unless items are lost, stolen, damaged due to negligence, or if there's excessive weight change. The uniform allowance—$1,250 or $1,500 depending on the role—is meant to cover maintenance and cleaning of uniforms.

In his report, Ferguson compared Chicago’s uniform policies with those of New York City, Philadelphia, Toronto, Dallas, San Diego, and Indianapolis. While Chicago issued fewer uniforms to new hires and spent less per employee than most cities, its annual allowance was among the highest in the country.

“The allowance is not based on actual need or usage,” Ferguson wrote. “It resembles an automatic cash bonus and needs closer scrutiny.” He also noted that the department doesn’t track how the money is spent, raising concerns about accountability and transparency.

The audit reviewed 58,257 transactions totaling $1.7 million and found that 99.9% were in line with policy. However, $535,757 in expenditures from 2012 and 2013 came from a grant not included in the original budget, a practice the fire department plans to change.

Fire Commissioner Jose Santiago has implemented changes, such as banning firefighters from buying uniforms for others and adjusting when trainees receive their gear to reduce waste. The vendor now must check past purchases before approving new ones.

Ferguson also found that the department could save at least $1.2 million a year by hiring civilians for 34 non-emergency roles, including the position of commissary liaison—a job currently held by a captain.

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