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Chicago Fire Department, Illinois, 2008-2011
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Chicago Fire Department salaries are a matter of public record under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.
Salaries
Sunshine Review filed a public records request for salary information from the Chicago Fire Department for the years 2008-2011. Sunshine Review was seeking information on the salaries earned by the highest ranking officers. According to data provided by the Chicago Fire Department, the salaries for ranking officers remained the same between 2008 and 2011.[1] The list did not include names of employees or the number of people in each position.
2011 salaries
- Deputy District Chief earned $134,868
- District Chief earned $148,356
- Assistant Deputy Fire Commissioner earned $161,652
- Deputy Fire Commissioner earned $163,680
- First Deputy Fire Commissioner earned $172,452
- Fire Commissioner Robert Hoff earned $185,652
2010 salaries
- Deputy District Chief earned $134,868
- District Chief earned $148,356
- Assistant Deputy Fire Commissioner earned $161,652
- Deputy Fire Commissioner earned $163,680
- First Deputy Fire Commissioner earned $172,452
- Fire Commissioner Robert Hoff earned $185,652
2009 Salaries
- Deputy District Chief earned $134,868
- District Chief earned $148,356
- Assistant Deputy Fire Commissioner earned $161,652
- Deputy Fire Commissioner earned $163,680
- First Deputy Fire Commissioner earned $172,452
- Fire Commissioner earned $185,652
2008 Salaries
- Deputy District Chief earned $134,868
- District Chief earned $148,356
- Assistant Deputy Fire Commissioner earned $161,652
- Deputy Fire Commissioner earned $163,680
- First Deputy Fire Commissioner earned $172,452
- Fire Commissioner earned $185,652
Benefits
Sunshine Review filed a public records request for employee benefit information from the Chicago Fire Department for the years 2008-2011. Benefits for Chicago Fire Department employees are managed by the City of Chicago's Benefits Management System. Employees and dependents are eligible for medical, dental and vision insurance.[2]
Phone use
Sunshine Review filed a public records request for information on cellular devices issued by the Chicago Fire Department, including the monthly costs. The Chicago Fire Department responded by sending its Mobile Communications Policy.[3] The policy does not include the number of devices issued nor the associated costs.
According to the Chicago Fire Department guide for mobile devices, employees who use a city device for personal calls must get a second line billed to their home, or set up an automatic payroll deduction of $75 per month.[4]
According to the mobile device guide, due to the high cost of data-transmitting devices, such as Blackberrys, the use is discouraged, except in cases that improve efficiency or public safety.[5]
Car use
Sunshine Review filed a public records request for information on automobiles issued by the Chicago Fire Department, including vehicles allowed to be driven home. The Chicago Fire Department responded by sending its Vehicle and Equipment Policy.[6] According to the policy vehicles are to be reserved exclusively for city use.
City employees may be eligible to take home vehicles if their jobs require them to be immediately available to respond.[7]
Salary records project
In 2011, Sunshine Review chose 152 local governments as the focus of research on public employee salaries. The editors of Sunshine Review selected eight states with relevant political contexts (listed alphabetically):
1. California
2. Florida
3. Illinois
4. Michigan
5. New Jersey
6. Pennsylvania
7. Texas
8. Wisconsin
Within these states, the editors of Sunshine Review focused on the most populous cities, counties and school districts, as well as the emergency services entities within these governments. The purpose of this selection method was to develop articles on governments affecting the most citizens.
The salary information garnered from these states were a combination of existing online resources and state Freedom of Information Act requests sent out to the governments.
A study published by the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia said the city of Philadelphia faced challenges owing to the cost of public employee pensions.[8] The report claimed the amount that Philadelphia paid to pension recipients limited the city’s ability to use its budget effectively.
The report said there were more individuals receiving pension benefits—33,907 claimants in 2006—than workers in the city—28,701.[8] The authors recommended three steps towards addressing the problem of high costs in pensions: improved data collection, expanded transparency initiatives, and reductions to the city's overall budget.[8]
Salary schedules can be published as ranges, not as specific compensation figures, and may leave out compensation received through health and retirement benefits, as well as benefits such as commuter allowances and cell phone reimbursements. This project aimed to close the gap and provide a more accurate picture of public employee salaries for the sake of public education and transparency.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Sunshine Review, Chicago Fire Department Salary FOIA Information
- ↑ City of Chicago, Benefits Management System
- ↑ Chicago Fire Department, Mobile Communications Policy
- ↑ Chicago Fire Department, Mobile Communications Policy
- ↑ Chicago Fire Department, Mobile Communications Policy
- ↑ City of Chicago, Vehicle and Equipment Use Police
- ↑ City of Chicago, Vehicle and Equipment Use Police
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 '’Philadelphia’s Quiet Crisis: The Rising Cost of Employee Benefits, Pew Charitable Trusts and the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia, January 23, 2008
