Buffalo Grove talks salary cuts for new workers

In looking at ways to trim the cost of government, Buffalo Grove officials may establish a new salary structure for future employees.

The new structure would start new employees at a lower entry-level salary, while also extending the time it would take workers to reach the top salary.

The proposal, talked about at Monday night’s meeting of the village board’s Committee of the Whole, remains in the discussion stage.

A precedent for it, however, was set at the last village board meeting, with the ratification of a new agreement for the firefighters union. That agreement puts in place a lower starting salary for new firefighters and lengthens the time it takes to get to the top salary from five to seven years.

Human Resources Director Art Malinowski told the committee that Buffalo Grove is in the vanguard of a trend that will probably sweep surrounding communities.

He called it a great step for the village.

“It meets our goals of cost containment and slowing the growth in salaries,” he said.

Another positive is the timing, he said, since it comes on the heels of the state General Assembly approving reforms to the pension system for public employees.

The combination “will provide the village with both short-term and long-term savings and cost containment and growth as well,” he said.

The top salary for employees would be unaffected by the proposed changes.

“Ultimately, a senior high-performing employee, no matter if they were hired in 2011 or 1991, will make the same top-dollar amount,” Malinowski said.

Village President Jeffrey Braiman called the possible changes “a market correction.”

“We are really leading the effort, I think, in the metro area,” added Village Manager Dane Bragg. “And I think we will probably be used as an example at many a negotiating table in the next year or two.”

Buffalo Grove may also reap savings from a voluntary separation program instituted by village. About 23 employees, or 10 percent of the workforce, could take advantage of the program, Bragg said.