Proposed employee pay hikes concern Buffalo Grove trustees

Faced with potentially hiking water rates, fees and property taxes to pay for rising costs, Buffalo Grove leaders are examining the salaries of village employees with a little more scrutiny.

That started Monday, when village trustees discussed a proposed 2.25% general wage increase for nonunion employees.

Human Resources Director Art Malinowski said the proposed salary increases for 2020 were reached after surveying pay at 14 comparable communities. He also outlined a proposal for a compensation pool to fund pay-for-performance increases that could see some workers receiving a 7.25% pay hike.

Given rising costs elsewhere in the village's budget, some trustees were hesitant Monday to endorse the plan.

"We have reached the point where I'm not sure we can do this," Trustee David Weidenfeld said. "I'm not trying to be unsympathetic to people who have to pay bills. I don't understand where the money comes from."

Trustee Joanne Johnson voiced concern over how the increases might play with constituents.

"I think we all agree that our staff is amazing. We are pleased with our staff. But I know that I'm not the only board member that's hearing from residents that there are seniors that can't afford to stay in their homes because they can't even afford their property taxes," she said.

"I, for one, find it very difficult to vote for two types of salary increases, both merit and cost-of-living, for our employees while at the same time voting for several tax increases on our residents," Johnson added.

Malinowski noted that there is a potential equity issue between union and nonunion workers. Nonunion employees make up half the village's workforce.

Deputy Village Manager Jennifer Maltas noted a potential consequence of that kind of inequity.

"I think you need to look at it in the grand scheme of things, because this discussion happened prior to when I was here, and (no pay hikes) were given out to employees," she said. "And that's why we have a police union now."

No action was taken Monday on the proposed pay hikes. Discussions will continue as the board considers next year's budget.