Kane County leaders' possible raises: 10 to 33 percent
Kane County elected officials would receive raises of 10 to 33 percent if early salary discussions by county board members proceed as described in figures obtained Tuesday by the Daily Herald.
County board Chairman Chris Lauzen would be in line for a 33 percent bump, followed by Circuit Court Clerk Tom Hartwell at 21 percent. The six other elected heads would receive 10 percent increases. All would be for the next term of office.
County board members confirmed the behind-the-scenes raise discussions occurred last Friday. Most of the countywide elected officials haven't received a base salary increase since 2008. Some, such as county Clerk Jack Cunningham, haven't seen a raise in 12 years. That puts him and the other politicians leading county departments well behind their peers in DuPage, Lake, McHenry and Will Counties in some cases.
"The reason for that is because of the bad economy and having to tighten our belts," Cunningham said of the dearth of pay bumps. "I have no problem with that."
Cunningham's base salary is about $100,000. That ranks him fourth among his clerk peers in DuPage, Lake, McHenry and Will Counties. The top-paid clerk on that list is DuPage's Paul Hinds, who has a base salary of $139,835. DuPage County has about 400,000 more residents than Kane County. But Cunningham said proper salaries really come down to job duties.
Kane County employees have more job responsibilities and get paid tens of thousands of dollars less than many other local counties, Cunningham said. Disparities, particularly in regard to setting the county tax extension, would indicate Kane's employees, from the top down, are underpaid, Cunningham said.
"There's no question we're low in comparison," he said. "Sure, I'd like to have a raise. Everybody would. But it isn't just the pay that makes me want to do the job. It's the challenges. It's being able to direct government."
Cunningham, as well as every other Kane County official reached for comment, denied having any part in spawning the raise discussions. Some, such as Treasurer David Rickert, had little to say about the topic.
"The decision about what the treasurer makes is up to the county board," Rickert said. Asked if he felt underpaid, Rickert repeated the statement. He would receive a $10,000 raise, according to the pending proposal. That would be a 10 percent increase from his current $100,000 salary.
The largest proposed raise, and perhaps the toughest apples-to-apples comparison is a $35,000 increase for Lauzen. That's a 33 percent hike, but Lauzen's job is also different from the chairman role in any of the other counties used for comparisons. DuPage, Lake, McHenry and Will all have full-time county administrators to run day-to-day operations. Lauzen does not. Those tasks are fulfilled by several county employees, including Lauzen himself.
That said, Lauzen's current $105,000 salary is second only to Dan Cronin in DuPage County. Lauzen said he was unaware of the raise discussions until the Daily Herald report on Friday.
"I have not requested the raise," Lauzen said. "I did not initiate the discussion. And because I have paid wages in my own business in the private sector, I know what it feels like to pay wages. I have always been very grateful for whatever the board representing the taxpayers and our 525,000 constituents are willing to pay me."
Lauzen is one of five officials on the November ballot who could receive a pay raise upon taking office in December if the county board approves the proposal. State law prevents elected officials from receiving raises during their terms of office. Any salary changes must be approved at least 180 days prior to the swearing in of a new or returning elected official.
Three other countywide elected officials targeted for raises are not on the November ballot. The total cost would add about $133,340 to annual county payroll. Lauzen said he will not be involved in any of the raise debate.
"I have zero authority," Lauzen said. "I'm not hesitant to make decisions, but when the decision impacts me I know that is not my role. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to discuss that."
What county chairmen make
• Dan Cronin, DuPage County: $126,450
• Chris Lauzen, Kane County: $105,328
• Lawrence Walsh, Will County: $99,616
• Aaron Lawler, Lake County: $86,036
• Joseph Gottemoller, McHenry County: $82,200
Kane County's proposed raises:
• Lauzen: from $105,328 to $140,000 (33 percent increase)
• Circuit Court Clerk Tom Hartwell: $90,655 to $110,000 (21.3 percent)
• Auditor Terry Hunt: $88,214 to $97,036 (10 percent)
• Recorder Sandy Wegman: $89,507 to $98,458 (10 percent)
• Coroner Rob Russell: $88,214 to $97,036 (10 percent)
• Sheriff Don Kramer: $124,000 to $136,400 (10 percent)
• Clerk Jack Cunningham: $100,000 to $110,000 (10 percent)
• Treasurer David Rickert: $100,000 to $110,000 (10 percent)
Source: Kane County; 2016 budgets of DuPage, Lake, McHenry and Will counties