This is the time for prosecutor raises
On behalf of the 82 assistant state's attorneys in my office, I am compelled to respond to your recent editorial, "Double-digit raises? Now's not the time." The editorial states that considering the current economic crisis, assistant state's attorneys should forgo salary adjustments and suggests they "should be glad to have jobs."
The starting salary of a DuPage County prosecutor is substantially lower than those in Cook and the collar counties. This discrepancy is forcing quality attorneys to leave my office in search of greener pastures. I have lost several excellent, career prosecutors to other state's attorneys' offices over the past several years due to lack of proper compensation.
Last year, I voiced my support for a quarter-cent public safety tax, the proceeds of which would go to support law enforcement. Your Nov. 5, 2007 editorial also supported the increase, stating "voters should support a small sales tax hike in support of law enforcement." With the state legislature's passage of a new half-cent sales tax, much of which is earmarked for law enforcement, two things occurred: the quarter-cent public safety tax was not necessary and the money earmarked for law enforcement was now available.
Your editorial dismisses "fears that valued employees will flee are likely to be moot as many workers opt for job security over salary growth." Your previous editorial, however, states that "the best and the brightest ... will eventually leave for places where the pay ... is better. That's happening now". The fact of the matter is that my assistants do have job security, they are just finding it in other counties.
While I disagree with your editorial's conclusion to "revisit this issue in 2009," I do want to thank the Daily Herald for its coverage of the work performed by my assistants in the courtroom and in the community. This unbiased reporting allows the public to see that these overdue wage adjustments are well-deserved.
Joseph E. Birkett
DuPage County State's Attorney
Wheaton