Algonquin Township is in the spotlight (scroll down in linked page) in a recent Open the Books report. The not-for-profit is run by Adam Andrzejewski, a 2010 candidate for the Republican nomination for Governor and one who sought Bruce Rauner’s endorsement for State Comptroller after Judy Barr Topinka died.
BACKGROUND
You can not complain about Washington, D.C. or your state capitol if you do not take the time to hold your local units of government accountable for their tax and spend decisions. Please use this report as a starting point to begin the process of asking questions and demanding answers of your elected officials. To learn more, go to our website at www.openthebooks.com, or download our award winning mobile app, Open The Books- free for Apple & Droid.
VISION
An America where any citizen can easily find virtually all information regarding how their Federal, State, and Local governments spend the taxpayers’ money.
MISSION
Our mission is to place “every dime online” of all government spending – Federal, State and Local – in an easy to access manner, empowering citizens to expose and curtail wasteful practices and ensure the more efficient allocation of government resources.
FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES:
AVERAGE SOCIAL SECURITY RETIREMENT: $15,528 per year
AVERAGE PER PERSON INCOME:
- Champaign County $24,553
- Rock Island County (Quad Cities) $25,071
- Cook County $29,335
- Sangamon County (Springfield) $28,394
- DuPage County $37,849
- St. Clair County (Metro East) $24,770
- Jackson County (Carbondale) $19,294
- Winnebago County (Rockford) $24,008
- Peoria County $28,157
- State of Illinois $28,782
Source: 2010 US Census Data
Algonquin Township
Top Salaries
In the latest fiscal year available at OpenTheBooks.com, the Top 25 SALARIES are displayed below. These salaries represent only “pensionable” salary—the annual amount that figures into the eventual calculation of the employees retirement annuity. These figures are not total cost which includes perks & pension benefits.
Year | Name | Salary |
---|---|---|
2014 | Baldacci Nancy D | $41,395 |
2014 | Barnas Michael E | $66,707 |
2014 | Cone Bonnie A | $31,388 |
2014 | Doubek Brian R | $65,675 |
2014 | Greene Ryan T | $62,135 |
2014 | Helman Douglas J | $82,820 |
2014 | Klemm Dianne L | $66,655 |
2014 | Kreklow Judith M | $70,298 |
2014 | Kunz Robert R | $84,430 |
2014 | Lane Margaret M | $72,287 |
2014 | Lee Derek G | $81,910 |
2014 | Magana Susan M | $35,231 |
2014 | Miller Anna M | $82,403 |
2014 | Miller Robert J | $93,318 |
2014 | Morrison Daniel A | $28,202 |
2014 | Neumann Daniel T | $73,810 |
2014 | Petralia Josephine M | $45,332 |
2014 | Riess Colleen M | $30,160 |
2014 | Rosencrans Andrew | $69,768 |
2014 | Sadzeck Pamela R | $37,463 |
2014 | Saludo Rosalva | $28,707 |
2014 | Stern Dylan P | $63,260 |
2014 | Touhy Carol J | $39,140 |
2014 | Vitous Tonya K | $33,270 |
2014 | Voss Randall O | $71,496 |
There’s also information on total annual salaries and number of employees from 2003 through 2013, plus how much gross salaries have increased compared to the increase in the Consumer Price Index.
The CPI went up 25.85% between 2003 and 2014, while salaries in Algonquin Township increased 44.28%, as you can see below.
That’s 71.31% over the rate of inflation.
Top pensions being paid retired Algonquin Township employees are also provided. You can see them below (listed from highest to lowest) for
- Timothy Shepard
- Michael Barnas
- Marianne Miscinski
- Florence Phillips
- Nancy Campbell
- Robert Vorisek
- Delbert Miller
- Joyce Rudar
- Marc Munaretto
- Gloria Krug
About OpenTheBooks.com:
OpenTheBooks.com is the education project of American Transparency- a non-profit, non-partisan 501(c)3 organization. The mission and vision follow the promise of founder Adam Andrzejewski’s 2010 gubernatorial campaign pledge to post “Every Dime.Online. In Real Time.”” Today, over 1.3 billion lines of public spending are posted from the federal, state and local level across America. The Wall Street Journal published Andrzejewski’s editorial “Track Government Spending on Your Phone. ” Andrzejewski appeared on John Stossel’s special Innovation Nation 2013 and FOX’s The Independent’s , and his work has been recognized in
USA Today, Investor’s Business Daily, HBO’s Bill Maher blog, Forbes, National Review, Washington Examiner, Washington
Times, Sunlight Foundation, Chicago Tribune, Daily Herald and many others.
WAY OUT OF LINE doesn’t begin to describe Alg. Township.
The Millers are the biggest offenders!
For 3 1/2 miles of road!!!!
VOTE ‘EM OUT! or forever hold your peace!
Its funny to watch how the Miller family is now aligning itself with the people who defeated Bob for chairman of the party.
Remember that Mr. Miller?
When you play both sides you get crushed by both sides.
We do have a very serious nepotism problem here in McHenry County, not just the township.
2014 – Robert J Miller – $93,317.52
2012 – Robert J Miller – $92,002.67
2011 – Robert J Miller – $88,891.48
2010 – Robert J Miller – $85,750.85
2009 – Robert J Miller – $82,851.07
2008 – Robert J Miller – $80,064.14
2007 – Robert J Miller – $77,463.79
2006 – Robert J Miller – $74,844.27
2005 – Robert J Miller – $72,313.31
2004 – Robert J Miller – $69,730.78
2003 – Robert J Miller – $67,048.80
2002 – Robert J Miller – $64,470.00
2001 – Robert J Miller – $60,916.65
2000 – Robert J Miller – $57,166.70
2014 – Anna M Miller – $82,403.29
2013 – Anna M Miller – $77,602.13
2012 – Anna M Miller – $76,042.31
2011 – Anna M Miller – $76,383.07
2010 – Anna M Miller – $79,649.66
2009 – Anna M Miller – $75,181.37
2008 – Anna M Miller – $67,179.61
2007 – Anna M Miller – $69,417.47
2006 – Anna M Miller – $69,050.06
2005 – Anna M Miller – $59,069.17
2004 – Anna M Miller – $60,569.11
2003 – Anna M Miller – $55,346.65
2002 – Anna M Miller – $36,257.79
Source:
[First Register so your data doesn’t vanish during this process]
http://www.OpenTheBookos.com > Illinois > Category: Employee Compensation > Employee Status: State/Local Employee Salaries > Area of Government: Village, Township, County, Park, Library, Local > Continue > Employer Name: Algonquin Township > View Results > Scroll down, select 500 items per page
http://www.OpenTheBooks.com
Just a sin.
Remember your cry against Cook county politics- as if this single party monopoly is any different.
Algonquin Township
3702 U.S. Highway 14, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Supervisor – Dianne L. Klemm
Assessor – Robert R. Kunz, Jr.
Highway Commissioner – Robert J. Miller
Clerk – Charles A. Lutzow, Jr.
Trustee – Melissa A. Sanchez
Trustee – Larry Emery
Trustee – Russell Cardelli
Trustee – Dan Shea
http://www.co.mchenry.il.us/county-government/county-yearbook/township-offices
http://www.co.mchenry.il.us > County Government > County Yearbook > Township Offices > Algonquin Township
ALGONQUIN TOWNSHIP-PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF “TOTAL COMPENSATION”
Illinois Public Act 97-0609
12 month period ending 5/31/13 (They are out of compliance)
http://www.algonquintownship.com/pdf/Public-Disclosure-of-Total-Compensation.pdf
Algonquin Township Board Members
(Although Listed as Board Members on the website, the first 4 are not Board Members?)
Chuck Lutzow Jr. – Algonquin Township Clerk
Dianne Klemm – Algonquin Township Supervisor
Robert Miller – Algonquin Township Highway Commissioner
Bob Kunz – Algonquin Township Assessor
Daniel Shea
Russell Cardelli
Melissa Sanchez
Larry Emery
Community Link – Township offers Weight Loss Support Group or Class (not specified), Yoga Classes & Senior Transportation.
http://www.algonquintownship.com
Algonquin Township Highway Department
The Algonquin Township Road District is currently responsible for the maintenance of over 55 certified miles of roadways.
This includes over 225 streets and 50 culs-de-sac.
Have a Recycling Center.
http://www.algtwsp.com
Algonquin Township Assessor – Property Search
http://algonquin.northwoodsoft.com/display/PropertySearch.asp
Algonquin Township
3702 U.S. Highway 14, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Supervisor – Dianne L. Klemm (defeated incumbent township clerk Marc Munaretto in 2013 election)
Assessor – Robert R. Kunz, Jr. (an unchallenged incumbent re-elected in 2013 election)
Highway Commissioner – Robert J. Miller (an unchallenged incumbent re-elected in 2013 election)
Clerk – Charles A. Lutzow, Jr. (defeated incumbent Trustee Linda Lance in 2013 election)
Trustee – Melissa A. Sanchez (defeated incumbent Lowell Cutsforth; Neils Kruse, & William Bligh in 2013 election)
Trustee – Larry Emery (defeated incumbent Lowell Cutsforth; Neils Kruse, & William Bligh in 2013 election)
Trustee – Russell Cardelli (incumbent re-elected in 2013 election)
Trustee – Dan Shea (incumbent re-elected in 2013 election)
There are a total of four trustees on the township board of trustees.
http://www.co.mchenry.il.us/county-government/county-yearbook/township-offices
http://www.co.mchenry.il.us > County Government > County Yearbook > Township Offices > Algonquin Township
Algonquin Township – Public Disclosure of “Total Compensation”
Illinois Public Act 97-0609
12 month period ending 5/31/13 (They are out of compliance)
http://www.algonquintownship.com/pdf/Public-Disclosure-of-Total-Compensation.pdf
Community Link – Township offers Weight Loss Support Group or Class (not specified), Yoga Classes & Senior Transportation.
http://www.algonquintownship.com
Algonquin Township Highway Department
The Algonquin Township Road District is currently responsible for the maintenance of over 55 certified miles of roadways.
This includes over 225 streets and 50 culs-de-sac.
Have a Recycling Center.
http://www.algtwsp.com
Algonquin Township Assessor – Property Search
http://algonquin.northwoodsoft.com/display/PropertySearch.asp
Here’s the pay history of the other three elected officials in Algonquin Township.
Dianne L Klemm, Supervisor
2014 – $66,655
2013 – $68,072
2012 – $66,716
2011 – $64,493
2010 – $62,250
2009 – $60,179
2008 – $58,188
2007 – $56,331
2006 – $54,386
2005 – $52,580
2004 – $50,807
2003 – $48,891
2002 – $7,966
Total $717,521
Robert R Kunz, Assessor
2014 – $84,430
2013 – $84,192
2012 – $81,345
2011 – $79,794
2010 – $77,811
2009 – $76,368
2008 – $73,887
2007 – $71,490
2006 – $66,174
2005 – $63,911
2004 – $61,453
2003 – $62,090
2002 – $59,500
2001 – $53,916
2000 – $52,916
Total $1,049,283
Marc J Munaretto, Clerk
2013 – $8,314
2012 – $17,524
2012 – $19,374 – McHenry County Board
2011 – $16,931
2010 – $16,333
2009 – $15,781
2008 – $15,250
2007 – $14,755
2006 – $14,236
2005 – $13,755
2004 – $13,282
2003 – $12,771
2002 – $12,280
2001 – $7,000
Total $197,589
Herb the township maintains a lot more than 3 1/2 miles of roads.
Algonquin Township Highway Department
The Algonquin Township Road District is currently responsible for the maintenance of over 55
certified miles of roadways.
This includes over 225 streets and 50 culs-de-sac.
http://www.algtwsp.com
The “Clerk” section of the Algonquin Township website contains the calendar, agenda, and minutes for the Board of Trustee meetings.
The meetings are open to the public.
You can go, sit in a chair, and watch what happens.
The address is 3702 US Highway 14, Crystal Lake.
Since the Township does not video tape the meetings and archive them on their website, to discover what happens at a meeting, you have to go to the meeting, or read the Minutes.
The meetings begin at 7PM.
http://www.algonquintownship.com > Clerk
February 11th, 2015
March 11th, 2015
April 8th, 2015 (also the Annual Town Meeting)
May 13th, 2015
June 10th, 2015
July 8th, 2015
August 12th, 2015
September 9th, 2015
October 14th, 2015
November 11th, 2015
December 9th, 2015
Just as with most taxing districts and state agencies in Illinois, there is no known watchdog.
The OpenTheBooks.com website is the only website that tracks township finances in Illinois.
How ironic the OpenTheBooks website contains financial information not found on the Algonquin township website itself.
Look for yourself.
There is hardly any financial information on the Algonquin Township website.
Certainly past budgets are not archived.
No checkbook register.
No archive of past years of the state mandated IMRF compensation report for employees with over $75,000 compensation.
The Township Trustees could create a board policy requiring the above and following information be posted on the township website.
The 10-point Transparency Checklist from the Illinois Policy Institute.
– Contact information
– Public meetings
– Public information
– Budgets
– Audits
– Expenditures
– Compensation
– Contracts
– Lobbying
– Taxes
Read the details and the list of taxing districts which the Illinois Policy Institute knew as of the date of the article January 1, 2013 to score 100% on the Transparency Checklist.
None are in McHenry County.
http://www.illinoispolicy.org/10-point-transparency-checklist
The author of the checklist, Brian Costin, has taken a position with the Rauner administration.
Brian Costin, who served as the Director of Government Reform at Illinois Policy Institute, will begin as Policy Director for Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti.
http://www.illinoispolicy.org/three-illinois-policy-staffers-join-rauner-administration
I urge all citizens of Algonquin to share this material via email, phone or in person whatever it takes to educate the taxpayers of Algonquin because we all must try and expose these salaries and pensions that are killing our state.
All of us will go down the tube if we don’t get into survival mode.
Thank you,
Algonquin Township isn’t the only township, or taxing body, “featured” on Open The Books.
The county payroll, as well as most school districts, village and park districts, also are there.
There are PDFs that are simply 3,000 pages of the entire web site’s 2014 database.
Great web site, very useful for a few years now.
Missing, though, is there PDF from McHenry Township.
And their database is missing some of our smaller townships in the county.
Note some specifics of this post is about Algonquin Township, not the Village of Algonquin.
You can use the principles found here for the Village of Algonquin or any Taxing District.
We are in desperate need of government watchdogs.
40+ years of no effective watchdog infrastructure has taken it’s toll, it’s going to be a long hill to climb.
Townships don’t have public sector unions, and their budgets are smaller than most taxing districts, so it’s as good as place as any to start.
Federal and State revenues to some county and local taxing districts are being reduced, so some will look to the local property taxpayers for additional sources of revenue.
On top of that we now have a wave of retirees coming through, it’s escalating, with hiked pensions due to hiked salaries and pension benefits, that because of bogus actuarial rules and shorting the already bogus contributions, there is not enough money to sustain these pensions, and there never was.
It’s going to get ugly over the next decade.
A good starting point is for these county and local taxing districts to get more financial information on their website.
They are self proclaimed public servants, and it’s a public service to transparently show the public how you are spending their money.
Especially elected Board members don’t have a good objection.
They can create a board policy following the Illinois Policy Institute 10 Point Checklist.
That’s a start.
But someone has to ask, most elected county and local officials for whatever reason don’t follow the Illinois Policy Institute 10 Point transparency checklist.
The board members should not be looking to their association and administration or even peers for transparency guidance (since most peers are not transparent).
Most of these taxing districts have had websites for a long time, they’ve had ample time to become financially transparent on their own, they have not done so.
I couldn’t find any McHenry County Township but Algonquin.
Cal, if you scroll down to the bottom of the page, past Arlington Heights, you’ll find they have nearly 3,000 reports.
Choose 500 reports per page to save time.
I’ll try to email the individual McHenry County townships they have available.
What’s criminal in my opinion is that both son in laws make more than guys that have been there years longer and have less experience. Over 300 thousand a year goes to the Miller family alone.
There is a new person trying to run for committee men for Algonquin Township.
In my opinion if someone can’t even follow the rules of an Association where they live, makes me wonder how can they even do the job of a committee men!
My opinion Scott Vetter is not the person for this job!