Wauconda Twp. board to vote on raises

A 10 percent pay raise in the current economic climate may be unlikely for most jobs, but it's what Wauconda Township's top three elected officials are asking the township board to approve.

And that's just for the first year in office - for the next township supervisor, assessor and highway commissioner who are elected in April 2009.

Those same officials also are requesting a 5 percent increase for each of the following three years and full spousal/dependent health care coverage.

A vote on the proposed salary increases and health care packages is expected Wednesday at Wauconda Township board's regular meeting, 7 p.m. at the town hall, 505 Bonner Road.

Township boards get to set the salary and benefits for elected positions once every four years.

Technically, Wauconda officials are not requesting raises for themselves since their re-election isn't guaranteed. Yet, the supervisor, assessor and highway commissioner do plan to run again in April.

Wauconda Township Supervisor Glen Swanson said the increases are justified because the supervisor, assessor and highway commissioner earn well below the average pay for such jobs in Lake County.

"These positions within the township are grossly underpaid compared to the other elected officials in the county, and particularly in township government," Swanson said. "We are not asking to be above and beyond the averages. We're just wanting to catch up."

Swanson's current yearly salary is $48,224 without benefits. The Lake County average for township supervisors is $70,381, according to figures provided by Wauconda Township.

The other two officials are Highway Commissioner Joe Munson and Assessor Patricia Oaks.

Swanson said the previous township board required the top three township employees to pay 40 percent for spouse and family health care coverage, while all other employees have full coverage for themselves and their families.

Whatever the township board thinks, the raises won't be approved without some criticism from the public.

"It's just so aggravating that they would even think about this in this economy," said Michael Hennessy, a resident of unincorporated Wauconda Township.

Hennessey said Wauconda Township officials are comparing themselves with townships that are bigger and provide far more services to justify the raises.

Wauconda Township serves roughly 17,000 residents in Wauconda, Island Lake, Port Barrington, Lake Barrington, Volo, and unincorporated areas of Lake County. The supervisor's and assessor's offices operate on an annual budget of roughly $1.6 million. The highway department services 28 miles of roadways under a separate tax.

Presently, the township does not have any parks or facilities other than the town hall.

Swanson said the township runs a surplus every year and banked $179,000 last year. It also has a cushion of $1.7 million in reserves.

Hennessey argues that a surplus shouldn't necessarily be spent on raises.

"They have asked for more money every single time even though they don't need it," he said. "They are taking the money out of the taxpayers' pockets and putting it in investments for the township."

Swanson said if the township doesn't capture taxes from new growth each year, it will lose that revenue for good.