Pay freezes proposed for Lake Villa Township elected officials

Lake Villa Township officials will meet Monday to consider freezing their salaries for the next two years.

Township Supervisor Dan Venturi said he’s proposing the salary freeze because of the struggling economy.

“I think it makes sense to do,” Venturi said.

If approved, the freeze would be the first for the township’s elected officials, who are paid for their service, Venturi said. The salaries for the supervisor, assessor, road commissioner, clerk and four trustees would be affected.

Information about the officials’ current annual salaries was not immediately available.

The township board sets salaries every four years in the year before an election. The next township election is April 2013.

If approved, the freeze would be effective when the new terms begin in May 2013.

The freeze would be followed by 2-percent raises in 2015 and 2016, Venturi said.

The township board last set salaries in spring 2008, when the economy “was still going pretty good,” Venturi said.

Under state law, township salaries must be set at least 180 days before an election. Venturi said he likes to settle the issue in April because this month’s session also includes the township’s annual meeting and typically is better attended than other gatherings.

Monday’s meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at the township office, 37908 N. Fairfield Road, Lake Villa.