Kane County gains ground on long-term budget help

A plan that might beef up the payout for unused sick days for sheriff's office employees may provide a solution to some of the long-term budget shortages in Kane County, but a magic wand for the current budget year is still missing.

The county's special committee tasked with finding $3.8 million in budget cuts agreed to further explore early retirement options that would be attractive to sheriff's employees, which represent the largest personnel costs in the county's budget. Two plans are on the table, one modeled after an offering in Elgin and another used by Sangamon County. At best, only 5 or 6 percent of eligible employees are expected to take the offer if it's made, even if Kane County modifies the plans to make them even more attractive with insurance benefits.

That left the committee exploring the potential of increasing health insurance premiums for county employees. The county learned it offers a much cheaper plan for coverage than most plans in the private sector. It could save about $371,000 by increasing insurance premiums to, for example, $401 a month for family PPO coverage. That would be an increased cost of about $108 per month for employees with that coverage.

However, members of the special committee agreed any such change could only be instituted at the start of the new year and with agreement of union employees. Negotiations with the unions on such contract changes, even including furlough days, has yet to begin, but the committee suggested bringing the unions to the table as soon as possible.

Not everyone is on board with the idea of making insurance benefits more burdensome for county employees. County Board Member Jerry Jones, of Aurora, said benefits are what attract employees to government jobs because the salaries are already less than what the private sector pays.

"I'm willing to do the other things, but leave my benefits alone. That's the feedback I'm getting from employees," Jones said.

Those other things might include unpaid holidays and furlough days, two options that have yet to be fully explored but have sparked many favorable reactions from county board members, including Mike Kenyon, of South Elgin.

"A furlough is a benefit," Kenyon said. "That's more time with your family."

"That's a matter of perspective," Jones countered. "It's more time versus meat and potatoes on the table."

"That's better than no job," Kenyon responded.

The committee will meet again Monday to continue exploring options.