Kane County considers furloughs to avoid layoffs

The word "furlough" is about to enter the lexicon of Kane County government and, likely, government employee paychecks shortly thereafter. But even that might not be enough to find $3.8 million in budget cuts.

Kane County Board Executive Committee members approved a draft of a policy that will make it possible for the county to implement furloughs (unpaid, involuntary days off) for any nonexempt, nonunion county employee. Those are usually hourly employees eligible for overtime. About 21 percent of the county's 1,340 employees fit that category.

Another 29 percent are exempt employees, typically mid-level managers, who earn a salary and not eligible for overtime. Those 386 employees would most likely face a pay cut without the time off because trimming their hours could remove their exempt status.

Putting in a pay cut and furloughs might save the jobs of those employees. Union employees might not be so lucky unless they return to the bargaining table. There are no provisions for furloughs or pay cuts in the contracts of the county's 640 union employees. However, they represent almost half of the county's personnel roster. If department heads can't find 5.5 percent in budget cuts, the cost to union employees might be in the form of lost jobs.

Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay said department heads have already told her they will not fight the requested cuts. Department heads will be given a chance during at least one special meeting April 21 to voice what the cuts will mean for their staffs.

Meanwhile, the county will investigate other ways to avoid layoffs. Board Member John Hoscheit, of St. Charles, has suggested a countywide wage freeze in the mode of what's being examined by the City of St. Charles. The county is also investigating offering an early retirement program for employees with more than 30 years on the job who are fully vested in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund. There are currently 23 county employees, mostly in the sheriff's and state's attorney's offices, who meet that description.

McConnaughay said no loss of employees will mean a reduction in services to communities, and said this is just the beginning of the pain as government budgets catch up with the losses already being felt in the private sector.

"We're in this for at least another year," she said. "The 2010 budget is not going to be good news. So keep that in mind."

Where the money goes

Kane County's largest departments according to personnel costs:

• Sheriff's Department ($24.2 million)

• Court Services ($8.7 million)

• Circuit Clerk ($4.9 million)

• State's Attorney's office ($4.7 million)

• Public Defender's office ($2.8 million)

• Information Technology Department ($2.76 million)

• Development Department ($1.8 million • County Clerk ($1.6 million)

• Building Management ($1.5 million)

• Judiciary and Courts ($1.4 million)

• County Board ($1.2 million)

Source: Kane County Human Resources Department