Franks seeks elimination of tollway board pay
After taking aim at the benefits provided to the appointed boards of public transit agencies, state Rep. Jack Franks is going after the tollway board’s perks now.
The Woodstock Democrat introduced legislation that would eliminate salaries, insurance benefits and pensions for the nine-member board of directors appointed by Gov. Pat Quinn.
“Our money could be better spent on maybe fixing potholes than paying these guys,” Franks said. “I’d be shocked if the bill doesn’t pass. I don’t know how anyone can defend these patronage positions.”
Currently, eight of the board members are entitled to annual salaries of $31,426 as well as other benefits. The board’s chairwoman, Paula Wolff, is entitled to a $36,077 annual salary, but the Metropolis 2020 executive director said she doesn’t accept the pay or any other benefits. It’s unknown whether other directors forgo their salaries or benefits.
Naperville Mayor George Pradel is one of the directors who does take an annual salary and is covered by the health insurance benefits.
“For me the legislation wouldn’t bother my serving at all because I’ve served when there was no compensation,” Pradel said. “All of us are dedicated to the tollway authority. It’s kind of part of our life, in a way. I love the tollway.”
Pradel said the position on the board is more than just appearing at the 12 scheduled meetings each year. He likened it to an ambassadorship for the agency.
“Once people find out I have something to do with the tollway they call and ask all types of questions,” he said.
Franks believes the board’s annual $287,000-worth of salaries could be better spent elsewhere in the tollway system. He said he urged the governor to cut the perks before he went ahead with the legislation. Franks argued that the salaries are out of line for “so little work” and that directors aren’t required to have any expertise in the field to be appointed to the board.
“The governor can do this on his own, but since he refuses to do it, I introduced the bill,” he said. “These kinds of salaries are business as usual and that’s what’s wrong with Illinois. I’ve given the governor a list of places where he can cut and this was pretty low-hanging fruit.”
Earlier, Franks introduced similar legislation that would strip pay and benefits of board members overseeing public transit agencies like Metra, Pace, the Regional Transportation Authority and the Chicago Transportation Authority. Franks also suggested those board be elected rather than appointed in the future.
The bills are currently being considered by the legislature’s rules committee, where all new bills originate, Franks said.