Kane circuit court clerk denied in second bid for big budget increase
Kane County Circuit Court Clerk Deb Seyller might have to revert to a pretty-please-with-sugar-on-top approach after county board members Friday rejected her budget increase request for the second time.
Seyller came to the county board with a $577,000 budget request increase in May to fund the salaries and benefits of staff she's already hired. That request couldn't even muster enough support at the time to receive a vote. On Friday, she returned with a slightly smaller request of $555,000 to fund those same staff increases. She was rejected again.
"We've been trying to cut budgets," board member Mike Kenyon said. "This is moving in the wrong direction. I don't think there's money in the county to do this."
Seyller's request would wipe out roughly half of the $1.14 million set aside in a contingency fund for departments that exceed their budgets this year.
Board members told Seyller, to even have a chance at consideration, she must offer more detail about what positions the money would fund. Seyller said the money would cover the salary and benefits of about eight new employees she already hired. The funds would also pay for a 3 percent raise for her staff. The raise is what the county previously agreed to in a 3-year contract with Seyller's union staff. However, Seyller said the county board didn't account for that raise in setting the budget for her office this year.
Board member Ron Ford said he had a problem supporting the additional funds because they represent approving an ongoing budget increase with new employees on the payroll.
"This doesn't just increase for one time," Ford said. "We're adding to the budget even for next year. Right now, unless our forecasts change, we don't see next year being any different than this year."
Seyller listened to the comments but did not indicate when she might return with a more detailed description of what the money might fund.
After the meeting, county board member Deb Allan said Seyller may deserve at least some of the money she's requesting if it's true the county failed to fund the contractual raises.