The firefighters union is taking the city to court for nixing a tax fund firefighters tried to use to buy items ranging from Fitbits to coffee beans.
The lawsuit could add to tensions between the union and city officials. Nine Crystal Lake firefighters, including two who were arrested, face discipline in connection with an off-duty incident in March at a local bar. The Crystal Lake Foreign Fire Insurance Tax Board and the city’s firefighters labor union filed a lawsuit Aug. 2 against the city and numerous city officials, alleging that they violated state laws when they zeroed out the foreign fire insurance tax imposed on out-of-state insurance companies. The tax collects more than $60,000 a year.