State cutting contributions on state's attorney, public defender pay

Illinois' financial crisis has seeped beyond the state's schools and town halls and into the offices of its top public lawyers.

McHenry County officials said Tuesday that the Illinois Department of Revenue recently informed them that the state will fall well short of its pledge to fund a large chunk of salaries next year for state's attorneys, some assistant state's attorneys, public defenders and supervisors of assessments.

The department also notified counties that it will make 60 percent cuts in stipends paid to other elected county officials, including sheriffs, treasurers, coroners and auditors.

Marc Munaretto, chairman of the McHenry County Board's Finance and Audit Committee, said the cuts were part of a "continuing disturbing trend" that local officials must prepare for as they plan next year's budget.

"When you talk about erosion in state revenues, that ball rolls downhill and we're at the bottom of that hill," Munaretto said.

The salary cuts alone will cost McHenry County about $176,000 next year, unless the county board tries to impose pay cuts on the officials whose compensation comes partially from the state. So far, McHenry County officials said Tuesday, the plan is to leave salaries untouched and make up the shortfall with county funds.

According to a notice sent to county treasurers this month, the state has decided that "as a result of financial problems" it would fund only 40 percent of its commitment to pay 87.5 percent of the McHenry County State's Attorney's salary, set at $166,508 this year. The state also will fund just 40 percent of its pledge to pay 66.7 percent of the county public defender's salary, currently $149,857, and 40 percent of its agreement to pay half of the supervisor of assessment's $100,000 salary.

While the county appears willing to make up the difference in those salaries, it seems less likely officials will do the same for stipends. The state currently pays stipends ranging from $3,750 to $6,500 to five county officials, but plans to reduce that by 60 percent next year.

"That's a little more up in the air," County Administrator Peter Austin said of the county's willingness to make up the shortfall. "To me, (the stipend) is an agreement between elected officials and the state."

County officials made no final decisions Tuesday, and said they will be watching for other possible cuts in state funding in the months leading up to a vote on next year's budget.

"The point here is that as this trend continues, it has profound implications on our budget," Munaretto said.