Legislation throws money on the fire

Two little words in a bill moving through Springfield stand to soak property taxpayers. Those two words are: “including manning.”

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.