Kane County raise plan struck down for third time

A third attempt to give raises to a handful of Kane County elected officials struck out once again Tuesday.

Local taxpayers may get a seven-month reprieve before the discussion is revived.

The raise debate began behind the scenes last month. It became public after the Daily Herald obtained a document outlining possible raises of 10 to 33 percent for elected department heads. The list excluded Kane County State's Attorney Joe McMahon, whose salary is set by the state.

The 33 percent raise targeted for board Chairman Chris Lauzen was an initial flashpoint in the debates. Various board members said there was no way to justify such a steep pay increase, regardless of the merits.

That led to Lauzen withdrawing himself from the raise debate last week. With that personal distance from the issue, Lauzen unleashed an intense push to give raises to the four other countywide officials on the November ballot.

Circuit Court Clerk Tom Hartwell, Auditor Terry Hunt, Coroner Rob Russell and Recorder Sandy Wegman all stood to receive 10 percent raises spread over the next four years.

On Tuesday, Lauzen let the debate occur without his input. The latest version called for 10 percent raises, including one for Lauzen. He would have been the largest beneficiary - his salary, now about $105,000, would have increased by about $11,000 over the next four years. The other four would have received increases totaling $9,157 to $9,411 in that period.

The plan received eight "yes" votes and 13 "no" votes from the Kane County Board. Three members did not attend the meeting.

Board members John Hoscheit and Deb Allan took the lead in promoting the plan to the board. Hoscheit explained the chairman's position was included because he believes the office has the greatest need for a raise.

"The chairman's responsibilities are significantly greater than any of the officials in any of the other positions," Hoscheit said.

Allan took responsibility for the timing of the plan. The proposal comes right after the April primary election and weeks before the 180-day deadline to put raises in place for officials on the November ballot.

"I'm bringing you a surprise because we are under a deadline," Allan said. "This small raise is a chance to show some appreciation and respect. It was badly handled. But this is our only opportunity to deal with this error."

It wasn't an opportunity the majority of the board wanted to embrace. Several board members still face competition on the ballot this November. Others opposing the plan said the feedback they've received from constituents was overwhelmingly against any raises for county politicians.

"As a labor leader, I believe in incremental increases," said board member Brian Dahl. "But the optics of increasing salaries of elected officials are that it is unnecessary and excessive. As we struggle to resource departments, my constituents are looking through a different lens. They see elected officials as paid adequately."

After the meeting, Allan said she may bring the idea of creating a citizens' task force to make recommendations on raises to the board committee she leads. She said she will either push that topic this summer or wait until the new county officials take their oaths of office at the end of the year.

The last time the county created a task force on such raises was in May 2006. That task force had four county board members on it, one countywide elected official, a mayor and three members of the public on it.