Kane County living within its means

Kane County living within its means

We are trying to make it clear through the traditional press that any raises given any Kane County employees, including nine managers of 1,250 employees, will come from savings gained in other areas. We should really celebrate that these raises will not cost you one cent more.

When our county management team saves substantial amounts of money in one area and strengthens our collective financial position within a frozen property tax levy, we need your direct and indirect permission to reallocate some of those savings where they will benefit you the most.

We have already saved you millions of taxpayer dollars in interest expense by refinancing bond debt, payroll and contractor expenses by eliminating lobbyists and public relations for the chairman's office, and fringe benefit expenses by asking all of our employees to share more of the cost of health care insurance.

I promised annual performance reviews for executive directors, terminating employment of underperforming senior executives while paying directors based on the merit - in an open, transparent and board-participatory manner prescribed by county ordinance at least the "average" of what their relative peer groups earn.

In exchange for about a nickel on your property tax bill, you are "getting" frozen county and forest preserve district property tax levies (for three years in a row), spending that is less than our revenues, strengthened the county balance sheet, and fulfillment of our service and financial commitments to provide justice (courts), public safety (sheriff), public health (now nationally recognized and accredited), roads, free and safe elections (county clerk), and much more.

We are "living within our means" in all spending, including rank-and-file and director raises, without asking you for one penny more in property taxes.

Christopher J. Lauzen

Kane County

Board Chairman