Campton defends ‘frugal’ spending

Campton Township officials said they have no plans to change their current policy that provides for 100 percent health insurance costs — to the tune of more than $20,000 in 2010 — for two elected employees: the assessor and road commissioner.

A Daily Herald investigation showed that taxpayers last year paid more than $1 million for insurance for 77 elected leaders, including some part-time trustees.

Expenditures of $20,128.36 in Campton were on the low end of the spectrum compared to some other townships, such as Naperville and Elgin, which spent nearly $124,000 and more than $80,000, respectively, last year.

The topic of health insurance was not raised at the annual Campton town meeting this week, and trustees say they’ve been “frugal” with taxpayer funds.

“We’re always trying to be good stewards of the public money, always have been,” said Township Supervisor John Kupar, who noted the township has a sizable volunteer base and has two full-time employees in charge of maintaining some 1,400 acres of open space.

“The other elected officials are part-time and don’t get any (health insurance) benefits,” Kupar added.

Trustee Greg Van Zandt said the township has no plans to change insurance provided to the two elected officials, but are working with an insurance broker to possibly reduce future costs.

“Campton has been extremely frugal in how we’ve spent money and what we’ve put money toward,” Van Zandt said. “I know we’re looking at all cost and that’s certainly one of them. Tax monies are going down. You have to figure out how to run a township with less money.”