Beecher, Ill. (ECWd) –
The Beecher Fire Protection District has been using public funds to give out donations and bonuses, according to recent Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) responses. We only requested records for the past 18 months.
Bonuses:
- There was no mention of bonuses on the meeting agendas or minutes from November and December of 2024 and 2025
- There is no mention of any measurable results to obtain the bonuses and no mention of bonuses on any employment contracts
- According to FOIA responses, there are no contracts or employment agreements with any employees except for the Fire Chief
- There is a “public-private partnership” contract and amendment with “Metro Paramedic Services” in which six of the firefighters/paramedics are provided by the contractor to the fire district to staff the fire house 24-7 – this is authorized under Section 11(a) of the Fire Protection District Act
In December of 2024, the District gave out a total of $7,500.00 in “holiday compensation” (bonuses) to ten people, which include the Fire Chief, Deputy Chief, Assistant Chief, Admin Assistant, and six Firefighters/Paramedics who each received $750.00.
In December of 2025, the District repeated the $7,500.00 in “holiday compensation” (bonuses).
We have repeatedly written about bonuses and the fact they are not authorized if there is nothing in an employment agreement/contract authorizing a bonus with measurable results to obtain the bonus. Bonuses for public employees, or bonuses of any kind, may violate state law (Article VIII, Section 1 of the Constitution and the Wage Payment and Collection Act) when there are no written employment agreements spelling out such bonuses, along with measurable results required to obtain said bonuses.
According to the Illinois Administrative Code for the Wage Payment and Collection Act, “An employee has a right to an earned bonus when there is an unequivocal promise by the employer and the employee has performed the requirements set forth in the bonus agreement between the parties and for all of the required conditions for receiving the bonus set forth in the bonus agreement have been met.”
Without the written agreement, any bonuses are an impermissible gifting of public funds.
A “monetary incentive” is authorized as found in Section 6(f) of the Fire Protection District Act – not to be confused with a $750 bonus paid by Beecher FPD – may be paid to certain volunteer firefighters and shall not exceed $240 per year, with other restrictions.
Donations:
As far as Donations, the District donated the following in the past 18 months:
- June 2026 – $200 Special Olympics Hole-In-One sponsor Golf Outing
- May 2026 – Blanket, Breakfast, and a Ride to School to the Chamber of Commerce Golf Outing
- Feb 2026 – Blanket, Breakfast, and a Ride to School to the Beecher 200-U Education Foundation
- Aug 2025 – Blanket, Breakfast, and a Ride to School Chasing Cans for Cancer event
- June 2025 – $120 and Blanket for Golf Hole Sponsor to Beecher Lions Club
- June 2025 – $200 Special Olympics Hole-In-One sponsor Golf Outing
- June 2025 – $43.20 for a street pole banner to the Chamber of Commerce
- June 2025 – $500 to the Hundred Club of Will County
- April 2025 – $UNKNOWN for Hole Sponsor and Blanket to the MABAS27 Golf Outing
- Jan 2025 – Blanket, Breakfast, and a Ride to School to the Beecher 200-U Education Foundation
- Jan 2025 – $1000 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation
Public funds are to be used only for the public purposes of the public body in possession of those funds. In this case, a Fire Protection District. If the district was never granted the authority (see Dillon’s Rule) to donate public funds, then the authority does not exist.
Additionally, Article VIII, Section 1(a) and (b) of the Illinois Constitution prohibit payments not authorized under Illinois law.
“. . .shall incur obligations for payment or make payments from public funds only as authorized by law or ordinance“
