DuPage keeping health insurance for board members
Several elected DuPage officials won't get pay raises during their next terms, but county board members will keep their taxpayer-subsidized health insurance.
The county board on Tuesday approved a pay freeze for the auditor, coroner, recorder and circuit court clerk for the next four years. The panel also froze the salary for six county board seats for the next two years.
Those positions are up for election in November.
Two years ago, pay was frozen for a dozen county board members. This week's vote ensures all 18 board members will receive the same annual salary of $52,102 for fiscal 2021 and 2022.
But the ordinance didn't go far enough for board member Tim Elliott, a Glen Ellyn Republican, who sought to eliminate health and dental insurance for board members.
It's now up to individual board members to decide if they want health and dental insurance through the county.
Elliott argues board members shouldn't be eligible for those benefits because they're not full-time employees.
"The county has an outstanding health insurance program," he said. "But we don't offer it to all our employees. We offer it to only those employees who participate in a full-time basis."
Elliott said members make "pretty good money for what is a part-time job" and should get their own insurance.
But the board's finance committee rejected Elliott's proposal to end the perk.
Some pointed out that eliminating health insurance would limit who can run for a county board seat.
Board member Don Puchalski said he believes health insurance has helped attract quality candidates.
"I don't take the medical, but I support anybody who does," the Addison Republican said. "I think it's smart for the county to give these benefits."
There was no debate before the board froze pay for countywide elected officials.
The auditor, coroner and recorder will continue to make $151,362 a year through fiscal 2024. The circuit court clerk will continue to receive $168,814 a year.
By law, pay for elected officials must be approved at least 180 days before the start of their terms.
State's Attorney Robert Berlin is up for reelection in November, but his salary is determined by the state. He is currently paid $173,744 a year.