Politics & Government
Election 2013: Larry Moran
Larry Moran is running for the Orland Fire Protection District Board of Trustees in the April 2013 election.
Campaign Info
- Position Sought: Orland Fire Protection District Board of Trustees
- Website: Larry Moran for Trustee-Orland Fire Protection District
- Email: VoteForLar@gmail.com
- Phone:
- Hometown: Orland Park
Personal Info
- Family: I have a wife and five daughters.
- Education: Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL Fall 2012 Doctorate of Education - Adult & Higher Education Lewis University, Romeoville, IL Fall 2003 Master of Science - Public Safety Administration Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL Spring 1999 Bachelor of Science - Fire Science Management Moraine Valley Community College, Palos Hills, IL Fall 1994 Associate in Applied Science - Fire Science Technology
- Occupation: Firefighter/Paramedic Forest View Fire Department 21 years in the fire service, including 9 years as Fire Chief Willow Springs Fire Department
- Political Party Affiliation: None
Candidate Questions
Why are you seeking office?
I have genuine concerns about the future of the district. I have been attending board meetings for more than two years, along with researching the operational and financial status of the District. I am new to politics. This position, for me, means that people will get an unfiltered version of what is going on in their District. I believe that decisions made by the current board have unnecessarily created future financial consequences that will require a reduction in service or an increase in property tax. Much akin to a toddler crossing LaGrange Road, I cannot sit idly by hoping for the best and armchair quarterback what could have been done. I have been in the fire service for twenty-one years, working in several different communities, gaining firsthand knowledge in operation and management of fire departments. The last nine years I was the Fire Chief in Willow Springs. I have no aspirations of seeking a congressional seat or moving out of Orland.
What will be your single most important priority if you get elected?
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Bringing focus to the District. The sole purpose of this special district is supposed to be to promote and protect the health, safety, welfare, and convenience of the public. This has been lacking, which is why I took interest in the District. In one fateful meeting in May 2011, the current board rescinded an approved agreement with the battalion chiefs, chose not to hire 11 firefighters that were given final offers of employment, terminated Bill Figel Public Relations, changed board meeting day and times, contracted former Chief Buhs as a consultant, appointed a Fire Commissioner (that did not appear on the agenda), hired Ray Hanania for public relations, contracted Cheryl Axley as a lobbyist, kicked Chief Krizik and Deputy Chief Madden out the door, and appointed Ray Kay as interim Chief. On the surface, one might think that they were here to do business. I’m embarrassed because the business is supposed to be fire and ambulance service. Despite the fact the District paid for two manpower studies, including a November 2011, study by the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association, it took this same board 18 months to hire firefighters. Unacceptable.
What sets you apart from other candidates?
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I’ve actually attended meetings (unlike some of my challengers), reviewed financial data, investigated operational issues and have taken an in depth interest in the District. I’m not bound by any political party or “handler” to censor my opinions or spoon feed me excerpted facts to appear knowledgeable. I am an individual recognizing poor management and government. I have made tragic errors over the last few years when casting my ballot, and the only way to right my wrongs is to run in this election.
What are the biggest challenges facing the district? How do you propose to solve them?
The biggest challenge is the District’s lack of reason. Whether ignorance or negligence, there is no reason an Application for Insurance was made available on the District’s website that included an employee’s home address, phone number, social security, and date of birth. I wrestle with the knowledge that the district abated $1.3 million in tax dollars in 2011, only to hit us with a $29 million bond for pension obligations in 2012. Wouldn’t funding the pension with money the District already has seem more appropriate, especially since Moody’s notes that the District has a “strong financial profile supported by ample reserves in General Fund and Ambulance Fund”?
I’m tired of the allegations of transparency and fiscal responsibility since those cries lack the substance needed to make them believable. Isn’t it the oddest of things that the Board was unable to find a suitable fire chief from within the department, and from a pool established and highly credentialed candidates selected an applicant that does not even meet the minimum criteria to test for the rank of battalion chief? My proposition in solving this issue is to hold people accountable for their roles and responsibilities, to cause debate and validation of Board actions, to move the spotlight from fiscal health to the fleecing of our tax dollars, and to ensure that the Board actions are justifiable and for the right reasons.
How do you propose keeping a tighter budget that lessens the burden on taxpayers, while giving staff the tools to do their job?
I do not see the aging population being an undue burden on the services provided. While an increase in ambulance requests will be evident, I’m confident the staffing and equipment levels will handle the increase. The tighter budget has more to do with justification of the non-sworn employees. Two studies have justified the staffing and equipment levels, yet not one study has been done on the administrative side of the District. I know sworn employees must be credentialed for the duties they are hired to perform, I don’t know if that holds true for the non-sworn employees.
Does the current board engage in enough debate and discussion before voting?
No. Debate or discussion would have to occur, before I could validate if it was enough. It is not uncommon for there to be a “motion to accept items A-F”, followed by the 3-2 or 3-1 vote. While public comment is fun to listen to, the Board has chosen to not respond to questions.
In December, the board approved issuing a $26.7 million in general obligation bonds to cover 100 percent of its pension liability. State funding is drying up, but the district was already able to cover 73 percent of its obligation, which is considered a healthy percentage. Do you agree with this course of action? Who or why not? If not, what could be done differently?
State funding has absolutely nothing to do with the pension funding, it is supported by member contributions and local property taxes. It is an obligation borne between the District and its employees. The employees have met their statutory obligated contribution by the District’s pension pickup option. The District has failed, over many years, to contribute enough to fully fund the pension fund. While so many want to blame the “current economic climate”, this same fund was only 76% funded and dropped to 73% in 2001. In case people have forgotten, that is when times were good! This indebtedness has been compounded by the loss of return the investments would have paid, had the District made the fund whole when it was suppose to.
The SouthtownStar reported on December 21, 2008, “The levy, which is collected next year, is nearly $26.9 million, which takes into account the $1.3 million being abated, finance director Kerry Sullivan said after the meeting. The district is abating nearly $905,000 that would have covered bond payments and $411,000 that would have covered pensions, district officials said. Those expenses will be covered with other funds.” So we lost the average 7.4 percent rate of return on the $411,000, or $183,000 over the five-year period. So there is about $600,000 gone to the wind. Rather than abate $1.3 million in taxes in 2009, the money should have been paid to the pension fund, especially when the unfunded liability at that point was over $19 million.
The FY 2011 financial report showed a $16 million fund balance. While I would never recommend spending all of your savings, certainly a good portion of that could have been used to reduce the pension debt. I fail to see the rationale of the long term indebtedness of a general obligation bond that will have our children paying for the District’s mistakes. With all of the alleged savings, why hasn’t that money gone to offset the debt?
Now follow this... the $26.7 million bond brings the pension fund value somewhere around $84 million. Again using the District’s average 7.4 percent rate of return, the fund would generate over $6 million. Here’s my question, the District has levied around $10 million for pensions, can we expect the 2013 levy to drop by $6 million? My guess is no. The $6 million, in addition to paying the bond, will probably be re-distributed throughout the budget to other expenditures. Wouldn’t we have been better off doing something like using $8 million of our own money, bonding $8 million, and letting the interest catch up with the debt over about a 5-year period?
In 2012, the district hired 11 new firefighters to cover several spots left vacated due to several instances, including injuries, resignations and leveraged removals. Do you agree with adding more personnel to reduce burn out and reduce overtime costs? Why or why not?
Absolutely, but it is maintaining the level of service. The timeline kills me. April 2011, the Board voted to hire 11. The next month the Board voted not to hire, citing the need for more information. November 2012, the Illinois Fire Chiefs Assessment of Operation Staffing was disseminated that clearly described the fiscal and operational effects of staffing levels. The report echoed the 2006 Evaluation and Master Plan from Emergency Services Consulting International. Yet with all this information, it took the Board and additional 10 months get firefighters hired. I absolutely agree with reducing the overtime costs. There is a balancing act of the true cost of an employee versus overtime costs. The scales were tipped far in the side of “hire some people already” in this case.
Have you ever been charged with a crime? Were you convicted? If yes, please say what the charge was, and what was the case's outcome as it stands.
Never charged.
Are there any candidates in other races you would like to endorse here?
No.
Read about other candidates running for the Orland Fire Protection District Board of Trustees.
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