Wheeling trustees OK 75 percent raise for village president
Wheeling trustees Monday unanimously approved a 75 percent salary increase for the village president and a 33 percent salary increase for village trustees effective after the 2017 municipal election.
The increase means a jump from $11,000 to $19,200 annually for the village president and from $6,000 to $8,000 for village trustees.
Village President Dean Argiris says the increase will put Wheeling's salaries in line with those of elected officials in neighboring suburbs. It also will offer trustees and the village president fair compensation "for the time necessary to effectively serve the community," Argiris said.
The approved salary increases will apply only to officials sworn in after the 2017 election.
"The new compensation rate do not apply to anyone personally; they apply to the positions," Argiris said.
Trustees approved the new salary plan without any dispute.
Argiris in September announced he will run for re-election next year. He also announced his support for the re-election campaigns of Trustees Ken Brady, Mary Krueger and Mary Papantos.
Trustees Ray Lang, Joe Vito and Dave Vogel are not up for re-election and will continue receiving the current trustee salary.
The three trustees elected in the 2019 election will receive the $8,000 salary after they are sworn into office.
Once salaries of all trustees are uniform, an annual cost-of-living increase will be capped at 3 percent.