Candidates in Woodland D50 want to do away with car allowances

Candidates running for the Woodland District 50 school board largely oppose giving school administrators an annual $1,800 car allowance, and pledged to review the expense if elected in April.

Six candidates are running for three 4-year terms.

Incumbents Mark Vondracek and Terry Hall are facing off against challengers Chris Schrantz, Vincent Juarez, Keith DeVore and Alex Attiah on the April 5 ballot.

Late last year, the Daily Herald reviewed the travel allowances for districts in four counties and learned Woodland spends about $1,800 annually on administrative car allowances.

The candidates were asked via written questionnaire whether they feel the allowance is necessary or should end given the district's economic circumstances.

Vondracek, 42, a physics teacher from Gurnee, said the allowance should definitely be addressed.

“This is a feature of some administrative contracts and it is something that needs to, at a minimum, be reviewed by the next board to see if the cost matches the actual travel,” he said. “I do not support continuing an allowance for local travel between buildings.”

Juarez, a 34-year-old golf pro from Wildwood, said because of the district's $4.5 million budget shortfall, all expenses should be closely analyzed.

“While eliminating $1,800 from the school's annual budget would not make a material impact to it's deficit, it's symbolic of the challenges to bring the district's spending back in line and eliminate the annual deficit spending,” he said.

Hall, 61, a certified public accountant from Gurnee, agreed that the expenses should be analyzed.

“Car allowances should be examined in context with other travel expenses and reimbursements, and reduced overall if savings can be realized,” she said.

Schrantz, 48, a vice president of finance and business services from Gurnee, said he opposes car allowances.

“I believe that there are greater priorities for the district's resources and that the compensation for our administrative employees is sufficient without including a car allowance,” he said.

Attiah, 37, a home broker from Gurnee, said the expenditures should be reviewed to determine their need.

“Everyone is feeling the financial stress in today's economy,” he said. “It is important to also be cognizant of our community to determine how we can alleviate the property tax burden.”

DeVore, a research budget analyst for Lake County, said from a distance the allowance looks frivolous, but he would need to further research the issue before deciding.

“When you are working in public finance it is important to understand what expenses are necessary for the quality of that organization and what expenditures need to be halted,” he said.