Schaumburg police command to get at least 2% raises, maybe more
Schaumburg trustees have unanimously approved a new three-year contract with the village's police command staff that's partially contingent upon financial decisions of the state.
The contract promises at least 2 percent annual raises for Schaumburg's six police lieutenants and 15 sergeants during the years beginning May 1 in 2015, 2016 and 2017.
But for any year in which the state reduces the village's share of revenues from income, sales or motor-fuel taxes by less than 5 percent, the command staff would receive a 2.25 percent raise instead, Village Manager Brian Townsend said.
Lt. Vito Rago, president of the command officers association, said the union understands the village's concerns that Gov. Bruce Rauner's proposal to reduce the amount of state revenue shared with municipalities could affect Schaumburg's ability to afford pay raises.
Rauner wants to cut in half the amount of money cities and villages receive in state income taxes. Schaumburg officials say that would mean as much as $3.5 million in lost revenue for the village.
“We're well aware of the situation and we want to work with the village,” Rago said. “We understand the village has to answer to its citizens.”
Though Townsend became village manager in late August 2013, this is already the second three-year contract he's helped negotiate with the police force's command staff.
The first contract was approved in November 2013, but was retroactive to May 1, 2012, after negotiations had stalled for 18 months.
Rago said Townsend's arrival, as well as the work of Assistant Village Manager Paula Hewson, has completely changed the quality of the union's relationship with the village manager's office and top police department administrators.
“I think there's more of a cohesiveness than there was in the past,” Rago said. “It's just been a great thing to have change. The attitude has changed and the morale has changed.”
Schaumburg's next union contract up for renewal is with the police department's rank-and-file officers. Their current deal expires in April 2016.