Cary looking to reduce crossing guard wages

Add Cary to the list of towns seeking to do more with less.

On Tuesday, the village's police committee will discuss and likely approve a reduction in hourly wages for the village's 12 crossing guards.

The committee will forward that recommendation onto the village board, which will take a vote the following Tuesday.

"It's just like everything else - we're trying to economize as much as possible," said Village Administrator Cameron Davis. "No one wants to reduce people's compensation, but sometimes it's necessary."

Right now, the crossing guards make $16 an hour to escort children across six busy intersections in town.

They work on a part-time basis at different intersections during the school year and do not receive any benefits.

Davis said the crossing guard program costs $34,000 every year.

While the village picks up $22,000, Cary Elementary District 26 pays the $12,000 balance.

"We just need to try to get it closer to a 50-50 arrangement," Davis said.