Westfield firefighters have spent nearly a year asking for something that should never be in question: accurate paychecks.

Since January, repeated payroll errors have caused serious issues with tax withholdings, retirement contributions, and paycheck accuracy. Some firefighters have had to deal with financial stress at home because of mistakes they had no control over. These aren’t minor technical hiccups—they’re errors that affect real people with families, mortgages, and lives on the line.

Despite promises that the issue is “under control,” most of Westfield’s firefighters disagree. In fact, 112 out of 117 of them recently voted no confidence in the clerk-treasurer’s office. That’s nearly the entire department saying, “We don’t trust this system anymore.”

Enough is enough. We’re calling on Clerk-Treasurer Marla Ailor and Westfield’s city leadership to take two immediate steps:

1. Authorize an independent audit of the fire department’s payroll—led by a neutral third party and with full public transparency.
2. Temporarily transfer payroll responsibilities for the fire department to city administration, as requested by Local 4416, the Hamilton County firefighters union.

Yes, Indiana law gives the clerk-treasurer power over payroll—but there’s also room for solutions, especially when the community, the administration, and nearly every firefighter are asking for help.

These firefighters protect our safety. The least we can do is make sure they get paid correctly and on time. 

Add your name if you agree: Westfield firefighters deserve financial stability—and that starts with fixing this payroll crisis now.