Crime & Safety

Tri-State Fire District Officials' Raises Lead to 'Pension Windfall': BGA Report

The Better Government Association reports on the Darien-based Tri-State Fire Protection District's habit of giving pay raises to top officials before they retire, which in turn increases their tax-supported pensions.

Top officials at the Darien-based Tri-State Fire Protection District have received pay raises just before retiring, increasing the amount they receive in tax-funded pensions, according to a recent investigation by the Better Government Association.

The BGA "works for integrity, transparency and accountability in government," according to its website, through investigations, policy advocacy, citizen watchdog training and more. 

In its latest report, titled "Are Taxpayers Getting Burned?" the BGA highlights the Tri-State Fire District and how three officials were given pay raises just months before retiring, which in effect boosted their pensions paid for by the tax-supported district. 

The Tri-State Fire Protection District is based in Darien and serves an area of 21 square miles that includes parts of Darien, Willowbrook, Burr Ridge and unincorporated DuPage County. 

Here are five quick takeaways from the BGA report, which you can read in full here

  • James Eggert received more than $18,000 in raises before retiring as fire chief in 2004. 
  • The fire district board gave Assistant Fire Chief James Krohse a pay raise of more than $10,000 as part of a separation agreement before he resigned.
  • Alan Hagy was then promoted to fire chief, and before retiring in 2008 was given two raises totaling $17,000. 
  • Their pensions increase 3 percent each year. 
  • According to the BGA, "If the three men each live to age 80, they stand to collect a total of more than $1.5 million in additional pension payouts beyond what they would have been paid without the pay hikes."


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