Lake County Forest Preserve police in line for pay hikes under new contract
Full-time ranger police officers with the Lake County Forest Preserve District would get annual salary increases amounting to 5.5 percent as part of a four-year pact being recommended for approval.
The forest board on Tuesday will vote on the proposed agreement with the Fraternal Order of Police, which represents 13 full-time officers. Sergeants, shift commanders and community service officers are not covered by the agreement.
Forest preserve officials said the salary range needed to be adjusted to better retain and attract employees. Officers would receive a 3.5 percent "step" increase each year on their employment anniversary and 2 percent across-the-board increase on Jan. 1 of 2018, 2019 and 2020. The agreement runs from Jan. 1, 2017, to Dec. 31, 2020.
"How standard is this?" asked Commissioner Sandra Hart, a member of the forest board's finance committee, which recommended approval Thursday.
"It gets us pretty much to the average (pay scale) in Lake County. We were very close to the bottom," said Mike Tully, the district's chief operations officer.
According to the contract wage schedule, starting pay in the first year ranges from $28.06 to $42.40 per hour, increasing to $29.78 to $44.99 per hour as of Jan. 1, 2020. The cost of the four-year agreement is approximately $134,665, according to the district.
John Tannahill, director of public safety, said three officers have been lost in the last 2½ years because of pay issues.
"It's important for the public to understand we are getting to the market average," Hart said.
The agreement also requires offices to reimburse the district up to $5,000 for training and equipment if they voluntarily leave within three years of being hired.