Elmhurst Official Dislikes 'Swings' In Fire Budget

ELMHURST, IL – An Elmhurst alderwoman said this week she wanted an explanation for why the fire department needed new $1 million fire trucks three years in a row.

Alderwoman Noel Talluto, who has questioned the fire department's equipment spending before, said she dislikes the "swings" in the budget that result from fire truck purchases.

"I've been doing this for a little bit of time," Talluto said at a City Council meeting. "I don't remember buying ... new million-dollar vehicles three years in a row."

She wanted to know if the city had a way to smooth out the costs by having the fire department save a half million a year to buy new equipment.

In response, Christina Coyle, the city's finance director, said some towns have a separate account for city departments to contribute money each year for the maintenance and purchase of new vehicles.

At a meeting two years ago, Talluto, who heads the city's finance committee, questioned whether the city should replace a ladder truck.

"There are several of us on the City Council who already feel that the city of Elmhurst has too much fire equipment," Talluto said. "So while I appreciate the desire to want to save money, buying more equipment might not be the right way."

Other aldermen expressed similar thoughts.