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Will County employee salaries, 2008-2011
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Will County employee salaries are public record under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. Will County employs nearly 1,900 individuals. Will County’s population is approximately 677,000.
Salaries
Sunshine Review filed a public records request for salary information from Will County for the years 2008 to 2011. Sunshine Review was seeking information on the salaries earned by administrative and elected officials, as well as any employee earning more than $150,000 annually.
Will County officials did not respond to Sunshine Review's request. The Will County website does not include compensation for elected officials or county employees.
- County Executive Lawrence M. Walsh earned $93,116, plus another $6,500 for duties as liquor commissioner.[1]
- Sheriff Paul Kaupas earned $121,923.
- Will County Treasurer Steve Weber earned $93,116.[2]
- County Clerk Nancy Schultz Voots earned $93,116.[3]
In 2010 the Will County Board of Commissioners froze their salaries at $23,000.[4]
| District | Name | City | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| District 1 | Robert Howard | Beecher | $23,000 |
| District 1 | Katrina Deutsche | Crete | $23,000 |
| District 1 | Cory Singer | Frankfort | $23,000 |
| District 2 | Jim Moustis Chairman | Frankfort | $23,000 |
| District 2 | Laurie Smith Majority Whip | New Lenox | $23,000 |
| District 2 | Tom Weigel | New Lenox | $23,000 |
| District 3 | Ann Dralle | Lemont | $23,000 |
| District 3 | Suzanne Hart | Naperville | $23,000 |
| District 3 | Laurie McPhillips | Plainfield | $23,000 |
| District 4 | Edward D. Kusta, Jr. | Bolingbrook | $23,000 |
| District 4 | Charles Maher | Naperville | $23,000 |
| District 4 | Jacqueline Traynere | Bolingbrook | $23,000 |
| District 5 | John Argoudelis | Plainfield | $23,000 |
| District 5 | Lee Ann Goodson | Plainfield | $23,000 |
| District 5 | Brian Smith | Plainfield | $23,000 |
| District 6 | Don Gould | Shorewood | $23,000 |
| District 6 | Sharon May | Channahon | $23,000 |
| District 6 | Deborah Rozak | Wilmington | $23,000 |
| District 7 | Jim Bilotta Majority Leader | Lockport | $23,000 |
| District 7 | Kathleen Konicki | Homer Glen | $23,000 |
| District 7 | Diane Seiler | Lockport | $23,000 |
| District 8 | Herbert Brooks, Jr. | Joliet | $23,000 |
| District 8 | Frank Stewart Minority Whip | Joliet | $23,000 |
| District 8 | Denise Winfrey | Joliet | $23,000 |
| District 9 | Walter Adamic Minority Leader | Joliet | $23,000 |
| District 9 | Joseph Babich | Joliet | $23,000 |
| District 9 | Steve Wilhelmi | Joliet | $23,000 |
Benefits
Sunshine Review filed a public records request for the monetary value of benefits for Will County employees for the years 2008-2011.
Will County officials did not respond to Sunshine Review's request.
According to the Will County website, the non-management work force is represented by four labor unions and receives compensation and benefits though bargained labor agreements. Employment benefits vary according to full-time or part-time employment status and between employee groups.
Benefits include but are not limited to the following:[5]
- County Retirement Plan
- Choice of Two Health Plans
- Dental Plan
- Vision Plan
- Life Insurance
- Disability Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Deferred Compensation (IRS Section 457) - Employee Paid
Salary records project
In 2011, Sunshine Review chose 152 local governments as the focus of research on public employee salaries. The editors of Sunshine Review selected eight states with relevant political contexts (listed alphabetically):
1. California
2. Florida
3. Illinois
4. Michigan
5. New Jersey
6. Pennsylvania
7. Texas
8. Wisconsin
Within these states, the editors of Sunshine Review focused on the most populous cities, counties and school districts, as well as the emergency services entities within these governments. The purpose of this selection method was to develop articles on governments affecting the most citizens.
The salary information garnered from these states were a combination of existing online resources and state Freedom of Information Act requests sent out to the governments.
A study published by the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia said the city of Philadelphia faced challenges owing to the cost of public employee pensions.[6] The report claimed the amount that Philadelphia paid to pension recipients limited the city’s ability to use its budget effectively.
The report said there were more individuals receiving pension benefits—33,907 claimants in 2006—than workers in the city—28,701.[6] The authors recommended three steps towards addressing the problem of high costs in pensions: improved data collection, expanded transparency initiatives, and reductions to the city's overall budget.[6]
Salary schedules can be published as ranges, not as specific compensation figures, and may leave out compensation received through health and retirement benefits, as well as benefits such as commuter allowances and cell phone reimbursements. This project aimed to close the gap and provide a more accurate picture of public employee salaries for the sake of public education and transparency.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Herald News, Manhattan mayor defends $142K salary for official, Nov. 8, 2011
- ↑ Chicago Breaking News Center, Will County Board members freeze salaries, March 18, 2010
- ↑ Chicago Breaking News Center, Will County Board members freeze salaries, March 18, 2010
- ↑ Chicago Breaking News Center, Will County Board members freeze salaries, March 18, 2010
- ↑ Will County, Human Resources Department
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 '’Philadelphia’s Quiet Crisis: The Rising Cost of Employee Benefits, Pew Charitable Trusts and the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia, January 23, 2008
