Legislation throws money on the fire

Legislation scheduled for a House committee hearing Wednesday would require local cities and towns to negotiate the staffing levels of their fire departments with their firefighters’ union. If an agreement isn’t reached in negotiation, the decision on staffing would go to arbitration.

At a time when local governments are begging for help from Springfield to control the burden on taxpayers, lawmakers are about to stick taxpayers with another costly mandate…Please click here to read the Tribune editorial.