3 DuPage board members drawing 2 government salaries

Three members of the DuPage County Board are drawing two government paychecks, and at least are four poised to draw two public-sector pensions down the road, the Better Government Association found.

John Curran of Woodridge is paid $126,746 at his full-time job as a supervisor in the Cook County State's Attorney's office in addition to the $50,000 a year he makes for serving as an elected member of the county board.

He already is vested in the Cook County Pension Fund and stands to collect a DuPage County pension through the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund if he meets certain criteria.

Curran, a Republican, says he understands the public can be critical about government employees drawing dual incomes — and he gets that some might wonder whether he can handle two labor-intensive positions without giving either short shrift.

“In both roles, he says, “I work hard and believe I do a good job.”

Either way, he's not alone.

Also, board member Michael McMahon, a Hinsdale Republican, serves as an Illinois Liquor Control commissioner, a part-time post that pays roughly $32,000 a year, and could bring a state pension if he puts in enough time.

And board member Rita Gonzalez, an Addison Democrat, works as a cashier at the Illinois Secretary of State's office in Lombard — a government job carrying a $33,795 salary and, as long as Gonzalez puts in enough years and meets other requirements, a state pension.

Board Chairman Dan Cronin, who is paid $128,000 a year, doesn't have a second paying public-sector job, and he isn't vested in the county's pension plan. That takes eight years, and he was just elected in 2010.

But having served nearly two decades in the state legislature, the Elmhurst Republican is fully vested in the pension fund covering the General Assembly, he confirmed.

Cronin and the others aren't breaking any rules by participating in more than one pension program — or by cashing more than one government paycheck.

County leaders recently cut benefits for other county employees, scaling back the accrual of sick time and vacations. Another plan would charge the same workers and participating board members more for health insurance.

Computing pension payouts in advance of someone's retirement can be tricky, but at Curran's current salary level, his Cook County pension would likely be slightly more than $100,000 a year if he works for 33 years and retires after age 60.

In DuPage, his pension would be slightly more than $40,000 a year if his pay remained constant, and he served on the board for 20 years. But Curran, 38, said he isn't planning to stay that long — and might not stick it out long enough to be vested because he has other political ambitions. What's more, he now says he would be in favor of eliminating pensions for board members.

Curran said he earns his paychecks — roughly 40 hours a week for Cook County alone. As chief of special litigation, he oversees a 45-attorney division that defends Cook County against lawsuits, litigates municipal claims and handles real estate tax matters. He got his start as an assistant state's attorney in 1998.

At the state's attorney's office, Curran receives 15 days of vacation, plus four personal days and one floating holiday. He uses that paid time off by working only a half-day on about 40 Tuesdays a year. The county board holds its meetings that day.

In addition, Curran says he handles DuPage-related business on nights and weekends — dedicating roughly 20 to 30 hours a week.

“He does excellent work,” says Sally Daly, a spokeswoman for the Cook County state's attorney's office. “As long as he's properly using vacation and personal time to complete these duties, we have no problem with it.”

Curran is not required to live in Cook County to work for that agency.

Gonzalez also reworked her schedule to accommodate the board meetings. Since 2008, the year she was elected, she has not worked full-time at the secretary of state's office; she puts in 32 hours a week and is off every Tuesday, says Dave Druker, a spokesman for the agency.

Reached on the phone at work, Gonzalez declined to comment.

McMahon, who was elected to the board in 2000, confirmed his pension information via email, but would agree to discuss the matter further.

Curran says that if it were up to him, nobody on the county board would draw two pensions.

“The more I think about it,” he said, “the more I'm in favor of getting rid of pensions for the DuPage County Board.”

Ÿ This article was written and reported by BGA investigator Andrew Schroedter.