Hainesville to vote on village retirement fund

Preliminary review by the village of Hainesville to set up an Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund for its longtime employees has led to a question on the February ballot.

Hainesville is staffed primarily by part-time workers, except for a full-time public works supervisor. Mayor Ted Mueller said the staff has never been offered any insurance or retirement benefits.

The board began to look at enrolling in the fund and invited a representative to explain the issue further.

However, resident George Duberstein questioned this idea and circulated an advisory petition to put on the Feb. 5 ballot.

He obtained the required signatures to place the non-binding referendum on the ballot.

The petition asks whether the Village of Hainesville should permanently obligate taxpayers to participate in the IMRF.

Duberstein said he does not believe the employees are not entitled to this benefit, but questions whether the IMRF is the right option for the village.

He pointed out that when a village joins the IMRF, whether voluntarily or mandated by law, it cannot withdraw.

"It seems fiscally irresponsible to commit the village and the taxpayers to a long-term commitment," he said.

But Mueller says he has surveyed 20 villages, and 17 of them have set up the retirement fund for their employees. Among them are Antioch, Long Grove, Round Lake Park, Round Lake Beach, Lincolnshire, Green Oaks, Lake Villa and Kildeer.

Mueller added he believes the four employees who report to him are second to none and allow him to manage the village without an administrator.

"To raise the question as to whether or not we should give them a retirement benefit is terrible," he said. "And I will campaign like hell and let residents know it."

Mueller adds the village is still in the discussion phase and has no timeline set to decide whether to join the retirement fund. But he adds the village employees work for the village taxpayers and are entitled to receive something.

"I think a majority of the residents of Hainesville are in favor of supporting this staff," he said. "These gals go out of their way to assist residents. They are entitled to it."