Elburn eyes policing changes due to pension costs
Elburn residents could be asked again to institute a property tax to pay for pensions for its police officers.
Or they could see a private company or another agency take over policing of the village, if they can supply the same service at a lower price.
Village officials are exploring both options as they try to find a way to keep pension fund costs from taking money that could be spent on other village services.
About 50 people attended Monday's village board meeting, many of them upset to have learned through a weekend newspaper article about President Dave Anderson's talks with Kane County Sheriff Don Kramer. Most spoke against the idea of having sheriff's deputies take calls in Elburn, fearing they would not get the same level of service and knowledge of the community.
Trustee Craig Swan, a former police officer and county deputy, agreed with them.
"If anybody has the misconception that a sheriff's officer is (stationed) in this town and thinks he will get backup within five minutes, it's delusional," Swan said.
Anderson said he asked Kramer about two weeks ago to consider the idea. The sheriff did not say "no" but did tell Anderson he would have to consult with the county board chairman and the Kane County state's attorney's office, according to Anderson.
"I did not hide this from anybody," Anderson said. "I talked to each and every board member. Because if any board member had said, 'No, we're not interested,' I would not have pursued it."
Trustee David Gualdoni said it should have been discussed at a public meeting before Anderson went to the sheriff. He does not favor contracting police service out and has started a Facebook page called "We Support the Elburn Police Department."
He said three or four options should be considered, including a referendum again on the pension tax.
Some of the speakers suggested asking voters in an advisory referendum whether they would want the sheriff to take over policing.
About 58 percent of the general fund budget goes to the police department, including the village's contribution to the police pension fund.
"Where is the money going to come from? We have to investigate. We have to investigate," Anderson said.
The board informally agreed to have administrators prepare information about conducting another referendum. Absent a special election, the soonest a vote could come would be in the 2016 spring primary.
In the 2012 referendum, the village asked for a tax of 8.68 cents per $100 of equalized valuation; the owner of a $200,000 home would have paid about $56 a year.
In 2011, the village was forced by state law to establish a separate police pension fund because the population had risen over 5,000. Before that, police officers participated in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund with other village workers. The village levies a property tax for the IMRF contributions. With the new setup, both the village and the police officers are required to contribute more to pensions.
Elburn has had a police department since 1958. Before that, it was served by constables.