New Lake County budget calls for raises

For the first time in three years, the Lake County Board has adopted a budget calling for more spending than the previous year.

The spending plan is increasing nearly 2 percent to $487.9 million. Planned widespread employee raises — the first in three years — primarily are responsible for the roughly $9.3 million bump, County Administrator Barry Burton said.

Workers are set to get 2½-percent raises, on average, Burton said. After three years of pay freezes, employee layoffs, other cutbacks and increased work responsibilities, it's time to reward the county's employees for their hard work, he said.

“After three years, we think 2½ (percent) is a modest increase to recognize the efforts that they've put forward,” Burton said.

The county board approved the budget Tuesday at its regular meeting in Waukegan. The plan passed 16-7.

For much of the last decade, the county's budget grew each year. It peaked in November 2008 when the board adopted a roughly $504.6 million spending plan for the 2009 fiscal year.

As the economy worsened, the budget shrank in each of the next two years. It dropped to $498.6 million for the 2010 fiscal year and to $479.6 million last year, records show.

Salary-related cuts have saved the county about $50 million over the last three years, Burton said. Employees in various departments were laid off, positions were kept vacant and salaries were frozen.

The workload in some county departments has increased at the same time, Burton said. Foreclosures are on the rise, and appeals of property assessments have increased, he said.

“There are many county employees working harder than ever before,” Burton said.

County board members' paychecks have been affected by the belt-tightening, too.

Nearly all commissioners voluntarily returned scheduled raises in 2010, although some did not. That same year, commissioners voted to freeze their salaries for two years.

This year, the board voted to reduce salaries for most members starting after the 2012 election.

“Good, smart decisions” have kept the county in the black during the recession and the time that's followed, Burton said. That's allowed for the budget bump, he said.

“Had we not made the tough decisions, we would still be in a tough position,” Burton said. “And we are pretty proud of that.”

The new fiscal year begins Dec. 1. To fund the projected spending in the budget, officials predict they'll collect about $478.9 million in revenue. Consumer fees for services are not increasing, Burton said.

The difference between projected spending and income will be covered by savings, county Finance Director Gary Gordon said.

Democrats Melinda Bush, Mary Ross Cunningham, Michelle Feldman and Terry Wilke and Republicans Carol Calabresa, Bonnie Thomson Carter and Diana O'Kelly voted against the budget.

Before the vote, Bush, Cunningham and other board members urged the panel to increase funding for the Lake County branch of the University of Illinois Extension educational and agricultural program. The budget includes $39,000 for the effort.

The board cut funding for the program by $31,000 last year, and proponents wanted that money reinstated Tuesday. The push failed.

“There are limited resources,” Feldman said. “It's not about whether it's a good program or not.”

The full county budget can be read online at lakecountyil.gov.