Here's a summary of an article from DailyHerald.com:

On Wednesday, Barrington filed a lawsuit accusing the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District of withholding over $1.2 million owed to a shared firefighters' pension fund. However, the fire district disputes this claim, stating that it holds no responsibility for the pension fund in its recent audit report.

The lawsuit alleges that when the fire district separated from the village-operated fire department on December 31, 2013, the pension fund was already short by $1.9 million. Village authorities assert that back in 2005, the fire district's leadership agreed to cover 64.25% of 'fire services costs,' which includes pension obligations. Based on this agreement, the village estimates that the district owes more than $1.2 million at the time of the split. Additionally, the village is seeking over $800,000 from the district for long-term disability insurance costs. The lawsuit further suggests that when the fire district requested a recalculated pension liability using a state-mandated formula, the estimated costs surged to over $2 million. A judge will now need to decide not only if the fire district owes the village any money but also whether the amount is closer to $1.2 million or the newly calculated $2 million.

Village Manager Jeff Lawler remarked, “This situation is unfortunate, but it's their doing… For 19 years before the split, they were paying under this formula.”

Village officials mentioned that they've been sending invoices to the district ever since the split, but the fire district has consistently declined to pay the full amount the village claims is owed. Last June, the village even returned a $14,000 check the district had sent.

Prior to the split, the district paid the village for fire protection services. However, as tensions grew regarding the village's management of the fire department, the two parties decided to part ways during the renewal of their intergovernmental agreement, dividing equipment and other physical assets.

Lawler added that the separation agreement specifically stated the district would receive a bill for all unfunded pension obligations, which was expected to reach a "seven-figure magnitude."

The lawsuit also demands compensation for the legal costs incurred by the village while trying to recover retirement and disability benefits from the district.

The fire protection district's latest audit reveals that it has over $2.5 million in reserves. In 2014, the district generated around $5.9 million in revenue, primarily from property taxes, amounting to $5.6 million. However, the district's expenditures totaled over $6.2 million last year, according to the audit.

The audit acknowledges the village's invoices but maintains that the district's internal calculations indicate no liability for the pension fund. It provides no solutions for resolving the conflict.

Regarding the long-term disability debt, the district argued in its audit that payments should be made only when the village processes claims, rather than assuming a total lifetime cost that could potentially be lower.

Thanks Dan!

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