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Democratic Candidate for DuPage County Board
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POSITIONS: ABOUT BOARD SALARIES...
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The following is adapted from a "Letter to the Editor" published by several area newspapers in May, 2006.
On May 22, 2006 the DuPage County Board increased salaries for its members and other county leaders.
In its first year, this ordinance will increase the base salary of each Board member by $1,459 per member -- for 18 Board members, that totals $26,262. By FY 2010, individual salaries will have increased from $48,620 to $53,645 -- a $5,025 (10%+) increase -- totalling over $90,000 annually.
This was not was not the correct thing to do.
It is wrong for the following reasons:
- County Board positions are part-time jobs. The County Board
meets two and occasionally three times a month. Most members belong to
three to five
committees which may (or may not) meet an additional once or twice
per month. Some of these meetings last up to two hours; others are as short
as ten
minutes.
Even if 40 hours per month is allowed for study and special assignments, the job remains part-time. In my opinion, $30,000/year is a reasonable amount of compensation. - In comparison, during the same meeting that approved these Board pay increases, the Board approved less than their collective $26,262 increase for each of six projects to help the less fortunate in the County. For example, the Peoples Resource Center received only $15,000 for one project and $19,572 for a second; NCO received $19,886; the Village of Downers Grove received $13,032; Willowbrook Corner Initiative received $15,196; and Family Shelter Service received $14,002. Many in need would have been better served by greater investment in these projects, rather than by increasing the compensation of 18 individual Board members.
As a candidate for the County Board I am proposing the annual salary be reduced to $30,000. The County Board should lead by example and this reduction could lead to implement procedures that will lower other costs to taxpayers in the future.
I applaud the minority of Board members who voted against the increase -- but we need more Board members willing to speak and act on behalf of our citizens.
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