Kane panel OKs funds for extra deputies

The Kane County Board's executive committee voted Wednesday to use $493,903 in contingency funds to pay for the salary and benefits of four sheriff's deputies.

Even though county ordinance authorizes 95 positions at the sheriff's office, only 91 were funded in the fiscal 2007 budget, which was approved before Sheriff Pat Perez took office in December 2006.

The discrepancy stems, in part, from a disagreement between the county board and then-Sheriff Ken Ramsey. Ramsey approved two promotions in the face of budget cuts proposed by Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay. McConnaughay had wanted to trim six positions from the sheriff's office.

But because the deputies Ramsey promoted remained on staff, Perez needed to find money to pay them. The $493,903 from the county's contingency fund will be used for salaries, insurance and other personnel costs.

The 2007 fiscal year, which began Dec. 1, 2006, ends Nov. 30. The sheriff's portion of the county's $279 million budget is $24.1 million.

In other news, the committee voted to authorize a one-year extension of the county's prisoner exchange agreement with McHenry County.

Kane guarantees housing for 12 of McHenry's juvenile inmates at its Juvenile Justice Center in exchange for McHenry's guarantee that it will house 40 of Kane's adult inmates at the McHenry County jail. Kane pays McHenry County $67 per day per adult inmate housed at the McHenry County jail and McHenry pays Kane $90 per day per juvenile inmate housed at Kane's facility.

Both measures are expected to be approved by the full board, which is scheduled to meet Tuesday.