OAK PARK, IL — The Oak Park Village Board voiced support for an ordinance authorizing salaries and benefits for six new Oak Park firefighters and paramedics not previously included in the pending 2026 village budget.
The “over hire ordinance” had been recommended by village staff and the village finance committee to allow the village to hire six new firefighters in addition to the department’s budgeted staff. The measure comes after two recent studies of the department concluded current staffing levels are driving high overtime costs and widespread stress among Oak Park first responders.
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