County Board Cuts Its Pay

Two-thirds of Lake County Board representatives will take a pay cut, starting in 2013. There are 15 board members earning $44,074; the other eight are paid $40,945 per year.

The Lake County Board approved paying all members $40,945 per year at its June 14 meeting.

The board’s reapportionment committee proposed the salary change at its June 7 meeting, to start in December 2012, the start of fiscal 2013. The original proposal would have evened out the salaries at $43,750 for four years.

Brent Paxton, who represents Zion District 4, made a motion to lower the salaries to $40,945 at the June 7 committee meeting, but did not get a second from reapportionment committee members.

County Board member Anne Flanigan Bassi, who represents Highland Park, spoke out at the June 7 meeting, saying board members should not get an increase when county employees are not getting increases.

County Board members were set to vote on the $43,750 figure at Tuesday’s meeting. However, Paxton proposed amending the figure to $40,945, which was supported by a 15-8 vote. County Board members who voted in favor of amending the salary to the lower figure were Pat Carey, Steve Carlson, Michelle Feldman, Susan Loving Gravenhorst, Diane Hewitt, Aaron Lawlor, Ann Maine, Jim Newton, Brent Paxton, Linda Pedersen, David Stolman, Craig Taylor, Terry Wilke, Anne Flanigan Bassi and Melinda Bush. The final amended motion was approved unanimously.

County Board representatives also are paid for their service as Lake County Forest Preserve District commissioners. They receive $3,000 per year from the forest preserve district. The forest preserve district president receives $25,000 annually.

The County Board chairman receives double the salary of commissioners,  $81,890, plus a $3,000 stipend for serving as the county liquor commissioner.

All commissioners also receive mileage reimbursement.