Pay hikes for DuPage public safety workers sparks debate

As the deadline approaches for the DuPage County Board to pass the coming year's budget, the battle over pay increases for public safety workers is heating up.

The county has come to an agreement with the sheriff's office that would provide for 16 percent raises for more recently hired deputies, but smaller bumps for longtime employees that would be in the range of 3 percent, board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom said.

"The sheriff is comfortable," Schillerstrom said. "Negotiations fell within the perameters of what we proposed."

Starting deputies would see salaries increase from $41,500 to $48,000.

Schillerstrom said the higher pay will help attract new employees and retain the ones who often jump to neighboring counties for more pay after being trained in DuPage.

The board still has to approve the plan, and some board members have questioned why the sheriff is paying deputies who work in the jail and courthouse on the same scale as patrol deputies. Other counties pay a premium for patrol deputies. A vote on the budget is expected Nov. 25.

But the bigger tussle may be over raises for prosecutors, whose starting pay is $48,000, which pales in comparison to comparable-sized counties. State's Attorney Joseph Birkett is seeking an 11 percent hike for his prosecutors, but the current budget calls for only an automatic 1.5 percent raise and potential for more through a 2 percent merit pay pool.

Schillerstrom said the county recquistioned a prosecutor pay comparison study with neighboring counties that won't be available until early next year, and the board should wait to implement raises until the study is complete.

"That study was due in September," Birkett complained. "That's outrageous. The county paid good money for that study. We even gave them the numbers. We played ball for five years and they bled this office. Now, the money's finally there, and it should be spent on what the legislators intended it to be spent on when they increased the sales tax."

Schillerstrom said the board could amend the budget to allow for raises when the study is complete instead of waiting until the next budget cycle. But some board members agree with Birkett.

"They haven't had anything for two years," said board member J.R. McBride. "I'm a little disappointed we don't have those numbers already so we can make a decision on raises now. We know it's going to be higher, so we should give them something now and increase it if we need to when the study comes through."