Aurora Firefighters' Union 'Firmly Opposes' City Leaders' Statements About Proposed Budget Cuts

AURORA, IL — A union representing Aurora firefighters spoke out Wednesday against statements made by city leaders regarding budget and staffing cuts to public safety funding, calling them "misleading and factually inaccurate."

On Monday, Mayor John Laesch, Police Chief Matt Thomas and Fire Chief Dave McCabe issued a joint statement assuring residents that the police and fire departments "absorbed the smallest reductions" of any city department — all of which will "weather some level of reduction" — if the proposed 2026 budget is approved.

The total proposed budget for next year is about $163.6 million less than 2025's and calls for 139 staffing cuts, including permanent and temporary roles, of which 70 positions were vacant, Patch reported.

"The proposed 2026 budget marks a deliberate shift toward living within our means," the city's finance department wrote in the budget docket.

Despite the cuts facing the police and fire departments, Laesch said Monday that "residents will not see a reduction in the services they depend on. Response times, emergency services, and fire protection remain fully secured."

McCabe said Monday that the department will "continue to deliver the level of service our community expects and deserves. While we worked through necessary reductions, we were deliberate in protecting our emergency response capabilities and maintaining the operational readiness our residents rely on every day."

International Association of Firefighters Local 99, the only union representing the rank and file members of the Aurora Fire Department, said it "firmly opposes" what Laesch and McCabe said. The budget proposed that 18 firefighters, three battalion chiefs, one training officer and two fire trucks be eliminated, according to the union's statement signed by President Rob Deubel.

Deubel wrote the union does not oppose fiscal responsibility but rather "decisions that compromise safety while being presented to the public as harmless."

"Local 99 will not stand by silently while leadership downplays real and measurable risks," the statement said.

RELATED: Aurora Officials Push Back On Budget Cut Claims, Say Smallest Cuts Are To Police, Fire In 2026 Budget

This is the union's full statement:

Aurora Firefighters Local 99 firmly opposes the recent public statement made by Mayor Laesch and Fire Chief McCabe regarding staffing reductions and their impact on community safety. It is misleading and factually inaccurate to suggest that eliminating 18 firefighters, 3 Battalion Chiefs, 1 Training Officer and 2 Fire Trucks, regardless of the method, will not affect emergency response, readiness, or service delivery.

Mayor Laesch stated, "this will not compromise safety." There is no scenario where fewer firefighters, less training support, fewer officers, and fewer trucks on the street equates to the same level of safety, readiness, or service. To claim otherwise is irresponsible.

While the administration labels this as budget efficiency, the real outcome will be an increase in unnecessary risk to every citizen and firefighter. These cuts do not save money; they simply shift costs into overtime, injury leave, workers' compensation, and preventable operational failures.

Local 99 will not stand by silently while leadership downplays real and measurable risks. We demand transparency, accountability, and staffing decisions that prioritize public safety over short-term budgeting optics. The community expects, and deserves, a fire department that is fully staffed, fully prepared, and fully capable, not one forced into unsafe reliance on doing more with less.

The men and women of Local 99 are, and always will be, committed to protecting this community. Their dedication, as referenced by the Chief, should not be used as justification to operate with fewer firefighters than are required for safe, effective response. Professionalism and commitment cannot be treated as limitless resources.

Cutting personnel and claiming nothing will change is not leadership, nor is it truthful. It is politics at the expense of public safety. Local 99 is not opposed to fiscal responsibility; we are opposed to decisions that compromise safety while being presented to the public as harmless.

Local 99 urges every citizen and alderman to oppose these budget cuts that directly reduce the level of service the members of our community deserve.