Plight of taxpayer should impact raises

The Daily Herald reported the city's finance staff is recommending 2.25 percent salary increases for nonunion employees, the lowest in 15 years. However, Councilman Grant Wehrli pointed out, "In the private sector, that is 2.25 percent higher than what's currently going on."

Thank you, Councilman Wehrli, for daring to interject a dose of hard reality into budget discussions. Past decisions should have no bearing on future pay raises. Economic reality must. Just because the 2.25 percent raise is the lowest in 15 years does not make it a bargain.

Back in 2005, the Naperville Unit Education Association was equating the size of its raise with level of respect (i.e., a small, 4.99 percent raise meant teachers weren't being respected). This nonsensical logic must stop - it's killing taxpayers. It's high time public employees face the same harsh realities being felt in the private sectors.

The size of past raises, or keeping up with the proverbial Joneses, should no longer be acceptable orientation points for future pay raises for public employees. The economy and the plight of the taxpayer should be the primary reference point. Taxpayers should applaud Councilman Wehrli's refreshing perspective and demand other councilman, as well as school board members, adopt a similar fiscally prudent attitude.

Mike Davitt

Naperville