Will Co., IL. (ECWd) –
The citizens of Plainfield, Illinois are getting hosed by their Fire Department, and not by a fire hose. Their hard earned dollars collected through local taxes are now being used to buy Christmas presents. When asked what the gift was, they stumbled to answer. When asked what the gift amount was, they stumbled again. When asked who it was dispersed to, they couldn’t provide an answer.
Now before anyone says it, NO, we don’t hate Christmas. We do however hate the fact elected officials in our public bodies continue to violate the law and spend our tax dollars on things that have nothing to do with the public service obligation they have.
This action was taken by the Plainfield Fire Protection District BOARD OF FOREIGN FIRE TAX, which is governed by the statute below as it relates to where their funding comes from and how it can be used.
(65 ILCS 5/11-10-1) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-10-1)
Sec. 11-10-1. In each municipality or fire protection district, whether incorporated under a general or special law, which has a fire department established and maintained by municipal or fire protection district ordinances, every corporation, company, and association which is not incorporated under the laws of this state and which is engaged in effecting fire insurance in the municipality or fire protection district, shall pay to the foreign fire insurance board or to the secretary of the fire protection district for the maintenance, use, and benefit of the fire department thereof, a sum not exceeding 2% of the gross receipts received from fire insurance upon property situated within the municipality or district.
The purchase of Christmas gifts violates the law as that is not for the maintenance, use, and benefit of the fire department. And for those that will try to imply it is for the benefit of the department, such purchases cannot violate Article VIII Section 1 of our State Constitution.
<em>SECTION 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS
(a) Public funds, property or credit shall be used <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>only</strong></span>
for <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">public purposes</span></strong>.</em>
The purchase of gifts serves no public purpose. Any expenditure of tax dollars to buy Christmas gifts, or any other gifts, violates the law and is an abuse of the taxpayers who are already struggling under a crippling economy.
We will update this article when we receive the receipts and recipient names of these gifts.
[gview file=”https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Agenda-with-Christmas-Presents-listed-1.pdf”]
10 Comments
homer
Posted at 20:20h, 13 Decemberiso rating of 3 with hydrants 9 without someones doing something right if they had better 911 maybe a 2
Jackie Treehorn
Posted at 20:08h, 13 Decemberjmkraft, this article specifically states that the citizens of Plainfield are getting hosed by their fire department because,”their hard earned dollars collected through local taxes are now being used to buy Christmas presents”. This article is meant to rile up and mislead the citizens of Plainfield by thinking their LOCAL tax dollars, which they pay a lot of, are being spent on gifts. I know some folks at that department and the “gifts” consist of safety glasses, flashlights, etc. items that are used on a daily basis by first responders. And if it benefits a first responder doing their job it benefits the public. I’ve also been told the foreign fire fund has been used to help offset the enormous cost of life saving tools such as thermal imaging cameras. To say the fire department is illegally spending funds is irresponsible and false. It’s this type of uninformed rhetoric that has completely polarized this nation. Hence Donald Trump leading in the polls. But I digress, a conversation for another time perhaps. Anyways. Merry Christmas everyone.
jmkraft
Posted at 20:26h, 13 DecemberJackie, we have requested the receipts, so we will have to wait to see what they reveal.
Their hard-earned dollars collected thru the local FFF are being used for that purpose. The term taxes is not reserved for real estate taxes.
I_take_umbrage_with_that
Posted at 19:12h, 13 DecemberPlainfield is by far the most corrupted suburb of Chicago – it makes Cicero look like Disneyland.
The only reason many of these officials are not in jail yet is that no body is paying attention and holding them accountable. How many times does the Illinois Attorney General, and private law firms, have to step in and force the village to follow the law? If it’s one it’s 20 – and that’s been in just the past few years alone. Open meetings and open records laws seem to be violated every other month, if not more often, and it seems to be accelerating.
I_take_umbrage_with_that
Posted at 19:07h, 13 DecemberPlainfield is the most corrupt of the suburbs of Chicago – and that includes Cicero.
The only reason many village officials haven’t gone to jail yet, is that nobody is watching and holding them accountable. It seems not a month goes by without some legally questionable disaster happening. Open meetings and records violations have already been handed out multiple times. How many times does the Attorney General, and private law firms, have to step in to force this village to follow the law? It’s over 20 if it’s one – and that’s just in the last few years.
Jackie Treehorn
Posted at 14:13h, 13 DecemberWow Kirk insightful and eye opening stuff. Not. You’re an idiot. Taxpayer dollars are not being used for Christmas gifts. The money comes from a 2% tax on fire insurance policies sold by foreign (out of state) insurance companies. Look it up. It’s usually a good idea to educate yourself on an issue before you start spewing your vitriol.
jmkraft
Posted at 17:39h, 13 DecemberJackie, Taxpayer dollars ARE being use for those Christmas gifts. Who do you think the 2% tax comes from? It comes from taxpayers (by virtue of the 2% tax even if they are not property owners) who purchase insurance from out-of-state insurance companies. As quoted in the article, it can only be used for the “maintenance, use, and benefit of the [fire] department“. Christmas presents do not fall into that category, and use of tax funds for that purpose violates the IMC and Constitution.
jmkraft
Posted at 17:57h, 13 DecemberWhy do you think it’s OK to tax people in order to buy Christmas presents? Does it make any sense to you?
nellie
Posted at 14:19h, 12 Decemberquestion when you look into fire departments conduct have any of the departments refused to buy your fire hose nozzle
Kirk Allen
Posted at 15:36h, 12 DecemberNellie, that has never crossed my mind. I find it laughable that you raise that issue instead of disputing the facts in the article. What you dont understand is that I did not look into this matter. It was brought to us by concerned citizens, just like every other article we write about. To date, two FPD’s have been exposed for wrong doing. If you knew anything about me you would know what nozzle they use is of little concern to me.