Hoffman Estates posts employee salary information

Detailed information about salaries and benefits for Hoffman Estates employees has been posted online.

Internet users now can point their Web browsers to hoffmanestates.com/index.aspx?page=489 and then click to download PDF files containing information about village workers from all departments including firefighters, police officers, village managers and department heads.

Information on the village board, including Mayor William McLeod and the trustees' salaries, is also included. Police and fire union officials last year complained that McLeod and trustees who were elected last year got raises that weren't properly publicized during the budget process. The raises bothered union officials because they were being asked to take a pay freeze.

Itemized information for salary, pension, insurance and workers' compensation is posted for 2010, as well as the total benefits paid in 2009. The village also provided data on how much in Medicare and FICA taxes were paid. Sick and vacation day information is posted.

Hoffman Estates officials said residents from different communities would soon expect this type of disclosure in the Internet age. The information, which was first posted Friday, does not exceed what the village is required to turn over to people making inquiries under the state's Freedom of Information Act.