McHenry County Blog

An email sent by recent University of Illinois at Springfield college graduate (who has a job) Melissa Sanchez.  She interned in House Republican Leader Tom Cross’ office.

Melissa Sanchez

Dear Neighbors,

It has come to my attention that some constituents of Algonquin Township are under the impression that I already am an elected official, and voted to raise my own salary.

I am fiscally conservative, and have promised to not vote on any more pay raises for Township Trustees.

This is the exact opposite of the rumor that is being spread about my person.

I cannot say how ardently hurt I was to find out that rumors are being spread about my political title, as of right now I identify myself as a Republican, precinct committeewoman, and concerned citizen.

This smear campaign to confuse the vote of many should not and will not be tolerated.

I hope that the people who have started this clandestine rumor will come forward with an apology.

This is the first time I have ever sought public office in the state of Illinois.

I want constituents to know that this smear campaign is an attack on my campaign, and that of any person who has run for office and had lies told about them.

I encourage everyone to take advantage of early voting until the 23 of February, and to vote on February 26th.

I thank everyone for their support, and help during my campaign to change Algonquin Township for the better.

Dan, Shea, Lowell Cutsforth, Neils Kruse and Bill Bligh share sign space in the Algonquin Township GOP primary election contest for four Trustee spots.

The long-rumored slate of

• Dan Shea
• Lowell Cutsforth
• Neils Kruse
• Bill Bligh

popped up on some lawns recently.

Shea and Cutsforth are currently on the Algonquin Township Board.

Both voted to raise township salaries and, with the help of a third Trustee, Linda Lance, carried the day.  (Lance is now running for Township Clerk against Chuck Lutzow.)

Township Supervisor Dianne Klemm and appointed Trustee Russ Cardelli voted against the higher salaries.

There are seven people running for the four Township Trustee slots.  The others are

• Larry Emery
• Melissa Sanchez
• Russ Cardelli

Donna Kurtz

An email from McHenry County Board member Donna Kurtz:

“Saw your article on voting for the EDC.

“Just wanted to tell you that although I voted for the $163K or so to contribute to marketing McHenry County to the business world, and of course we are competing for these business opportunities with other county EDCs, I have NOT supported any of the payroll increases that we have voted on in 2012.

“These payroll increases are the real dollars, in the millions, that cause the cost of government to go up over the years.

“For example, regular salaries are approximately $46.7 million out of a $90 Million budget for the County.

“Technically, when we vote to increase even by 2% these salaries our budget increases by $934K.

“Then when we provide annual salary increases we increase the increases exponentially.

“These are the real costs that have the greatest impact on increasing tax payer costs and/or push government toward deficit spending.

“In closing, the latest vote that was just passed supported a 2.5% for our non-union County employees http://www.nwherald.com/mobile/article.xml/articles/2012/07/03/r_txifo0dr4ykn8t1qfatfq/index.xml.

“I greatly respect the work that all of the County employees provide, but I could not vote for this increase because I have gotten very strong guidance for people all over the county that they don’t want to pay any more for their government at this and this increase, which is for approximately half of our county employees will amount to approximately $500K annually.

“My decisions on these votes are important because they allow me to position the tax levy increase situation appropriately in November.

“Please post this email on the blog if you’d like. I just wanted to make sure you understand the extent of the actions I have taken as a Board Member to be fiscally conservative.”

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Other public officials or candidates who wish to use this forum to explore issues or explain votes are welcome to do so. The email address is on the left hand side of the screen.

A press release from State Rep. Kent Gaffney, who is running against Danielle Rowe and Dave McSweeney:

Gaffney Files Legislation to Block Politicians’ Pay Raises

Springfield, IL – State Representative Kent Gaffney (R-Lake Barrington) has filed legislation to block proposed pay raises for Springfield politicians.

Governor Pat Quinn included funding in his proposed Fiscal Year 2013 budget for pay raises for state lawmakers and constitutional officers.

Under Quinn’s proposed budget, lawmakers would get a $600 pay raise from their current base salary of $67,836. Governor Quinn would see his own salary increase by $1,600 to $179,100.

Representative Gaffney, the former budget director for the House Republicans, filed legislation Monday to block the pay raises.

“Illinois has $8 billion in unpaid bills and a massive amount of debt,” Gaffney said. “Working families got hit with a 67 percent income tax increase last year, courtesy of Governor Quinn and the Democrats in Springfield. Now they want to give themselves pay raises? Taxpayers should be outraged by this tone-deaf move.”

Kent Gaffney

House Bill 6136, sponsored by Rep. Gaffney, would block state lawmakers, constitutional officers, and members of state boards and commissions from receiving a pay raise or cost of living increase. Gaffney is also co-sponsoring House Bill 110, which would cut lawmakers’ pay by 10 percent.

“It’s just common sense that in these tough times, there should be no pay raises for politicians,” Gaffney said. “We need to lead by example. I think it sets a terrible example to hand out taxpayer-funded pay raises to politicians when the State can’t even pay its bills.”

Earlier this year, Representative Gaffney opted out of the General Assembly Retirement System, turning down his legislative pension.

“I don’t intend to do this for 20 years,” Gaffney said, noting Illinois’ $85 billion in unfunded pension liabilities. “I’m for term limits. I’m not going to be part of the problem.”

A press release from State Rep. Kent Gaffney:

Gaffney: Pay Raises for Illinois Leaders Deplorable

Kent Gaffney

Wauconda, IL – With Governor Pat Quinn’s proposed 2012 budget calling for more than $250,000 in pay increases for state leaders, State Representative Kent Gaffney (R-Wauconda) says he is working on legislation to reverse the maneuver. Word of the pay raises comes on the heels of Quinn announcing deep cuts to state programs, facilities and jobs that total hundreds of millions of dollars.

“I vehemently oppose any proposal that would allow our State Legislature and other constitutional offices to receive a pay increase this year,” said Gaffney. “While we are a long way from May and a final budget, pay raises for lawmakers must be taken off of the table immediately. To address this I am currently drafting legislation to ensure that Quinn’s proposed pay raises will not be implemented.”

According to Gaffney, state leaders, including Illinois’ constitutional officers, department directors, cabinet positions and members of executive commissions and boards are all scheduled to receive a pay raise under Quinn’s budget proposal.

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Gaffney is opposed by Danielle Rowe and David McSweeney.

Ersel Schuster

McHenry County Board member Ersel Schuster has proposed an alternative compensation plan to the one recommended by the Committee Chairman’s Meeting for County Board members. She calls it a “minority resolution.”

Her suggestions?

• Chairman of the Board: $79,063 FY 2013-2016, instead of the Chairman’s Committee Meeting recommendation of $82,200, plus increases in the Consumer Price Index starting in FY15.
• Vice-Chairman of the Board: $5,000 per year more than board members with no CPI hike starting in FY15.
• Members of the Board: Members of the Board per diem compensation at a rate of $225 per meeting for each such meeting attended in full, for FY2013 – 2016. The Committee Chairman’s Meeting plan has them earning $21,500, plus CPI increases starting in FY15. (Note that members have to stay for the full meeting under Schuster’s plan, not just duck in and leave.)
• Fringe Benefits: The Chairman and Members of the Board may choose to participate, paying the full cost of such participation, in any or all of the benefit programs made available, now or in the future, to all County employees including, but not limited to health, dental and vision plans subject to the same rates, benefit levels, rules and regulations established for all County employees.  (The difference is that the above fringe benefits are basically free under the Finance Committee plan.)

As in the majority plan, mileage would not be paid.

Definitions provided by Schuster follow:

• Per diem is based on an average of 8 meetings per month for each member (2 County Board meetings; 3 standing committee meetings X’s 2 per month) rounding out to approximately $21,600 annually;
• Assigned/special meetings, where members were are in attendance, qualify for per diem;
• Meetings missed or cancelled could average the annual amount out to the approximate average of $21,600 x’s 24 or… $518,000 as an amount budgeted for this purpose.
• Members choosing to participate in the county paid “benefits” programs – pay the full cost of that benefit.  The IMRF & Insurance alone amounts to over a quarter of a million in costs to the taxpayers for what is “less than a part-time” – “public-service” position.

Those Board members elected last year are being paid about $20,200, plus fringe benefits; those elected in 2008 get about $19,800.

By being out of the room, I missed what Lake in the Hills Democrat Paula Yensen said at the McHenry County Board on organization day, but did hear Crystal Lake Democrat Kathy Bergan Schmidt tell fellow board members what she was going to do with the pay raise that she thought should not have been granted the coming year.

Schmidt’s is going to the McHenry County Cooperative Dental Clinic. It is a joint effort by the McHenry County Dental Society and the County Health Department, offering dental services to lower income residents.

“If others (follow my example), well and good,” she said.

Seen from left to right at the check passing are Grafton Food Pantry Board member Kathy Schneiter, County Board member Paula Yensen, Food Pantry President John Rossi and Board Members Harriet Ford, Betty Zirk

Here is the press release Yensen distributed:

Paula Yensen (D-Lake in the Hills) today donated half ($250) of her McHenry County board member pay raise for FY 2011 to the Grafton Food Pantry.

She also donated $250 to Turning Point.

Yensen had voted against the pay increase for County board members, but the State’s Attorney’s office has said that board members could not refuse the increase nor return it to the County. Yensen decided to donate her entire pay increase to the two charities.

You will remember that Democratic Party candidate for state representative against Republican incumbent Mike Tryon got more votes in the primary election than he did.

How coincidental is the release of Kaempfe’s press release on the same day that Tryon is holding a $75 fund raising “Luau?”

It also comes on the day that the Chicago Sun-Times is editorializing against the pay hike. Tryon voted against the pay raise.

Tryon’s event is scheduled from 5:30-7 tonight at D’Andrea Banquets at the southeast corner of Routes 14 and 31. Entry is from Route 14.

Kaempfe’s press release is about returning to the old system of setting pay raises—a majority of each house has to vote to set them. A Democrat sponsored the bill to make it what could be called an “opt out” system in which both houses have to vote on the same language to reject pay hikes recommended by folks appointed by the leaders of those who will get the raises.

Here is his press release:

KAEMPFE PROPOSES FIX FOR
STATE OFFICE HOLDERS PAY BOOST SYSTEM

CRYSTAL LAKE—The Illinois Compensation Review Board has once again recommended hefty pay boosts for state legislators and other elected official that will go into effect automatically unless the Legislature takes action to overrule the Board. Robert Kaempfe, Democratic candidate for State Representative from the 64th District believes the system is broken and needs to be fixed.

While the Review Board is doing their job of drafting recommendations on pay levels, Kaempfe maintains that the problem lies in the law which allows legislators to receive pay raises without taking responsibility for them.

“The pay raises can be stopped only if legislators vote to reject them. If they do nothing the raises go into effective,” Kaempfe said. “This gives your state legislatures an out by letting them be able to say, “I didn’t vote myself a pay raise.’”

Kaempfe pointed out that the current recommendation for legislators is an 11.7% raise.

“While the price of gasoline is nuts, food prices soaring, and homes being foreclosed, citizens are not seeing nearly 12% boosts in their pay checks,” Kaempfe said. “The legislature can’t even come to grips with a budget, but they want the people to give them a pass on an automatic pay raise.”

“I will introduce legislation to require that both the Illinois House and Senate vote positively to affirm recommendations by the Compensation Review Board.,” Kaempfe vowed.

In addition, the current law makes the proposed pay raises all or nothing. Kaempfe’s proposed legislation would allow the legislature to revise recommended pay raises down, but not up. If the Board recommends 11.7% but the legislators do not believe the full amount is justified, affordable, or reflective of the wishes of the citizens, they could lower the increase by any amount rather than just rejecting in total.

“What ever the case,” Kaempfe said, “the legislator must vote to approve it. This would give the public an idea who was voting for unrealistic or undeserved pay raises.”

Kaempfe invites comment on his proposal by e-mail at robert.kaempfe@yahoo.com.

You will remember that Democratic Party candidate for state representative against Republican incumbent Mike Tryon got more votes in the primary election than he did.

How coincidental is the release of Kaempfe’s press release on the same day that Tryon is holding a $75 fund raising “Luau?”

It also comes on the day that the Chicago Sun-Times is editorializing against the pay hike. Tryon voted against the pay raise.

Tryon’s event is scheduled from 5:30-7 tonight at D’Andrea Banquets at the southeast corner of Routes 14 and 31. Entry is from Route 14.

Kaempfe’s press release is about returning to the old system of setting pay raises—a majority of each house has to vote to set them. A Democrat sponsored the bill to make it what could be called an “opt out” system in which both houses have to vote on the same language to reject pay hikes recommended by folks appointed by the leaders of those who will get the raises.

Here is his press release:

KAEMPFE PROPOSES FIX FOR
STATE OFFICE HOLDERS PAY BOOST SYSTEM

CRYSTAL LAKE—The Illinois Compensation Review Board has once again recommended hefty pay boosts for state legislators and other elected official that will go into effect automatically unless the Legislature takes action to overrule the Board. Robert Kaempfe, Democratic candidate for State Representative from the 64th District believes the system is broken and needs to be fixed.

While the Review Board is doing their job of drafting recommendations on pay levels, Kaempfe maintains that the problem lies in the law which allows legislators to receive pay raises without taking responsibility for them.

“The pay raises can be stopped only if legislators vote to reject them. If they do nothing the raises go into effective,” Kaempfe said. “This gives your state legislatures an out by letting them be able to say, “I didn’t vote myself a pay raise.’”

Kaempfe pointed out that the current recommendation for legislators is an 11.7% raise.

“While the price of gasoline is nuts, food prices soaring, and homes being foreclosed, citizens are not seeing nearly 12% boosts in their pay checks,” Kaempfe said. “The legislature can’t even come to grips with a budget, but they want the people to give them a pass on an automatic pay raise.”

“I will introduce legislation to require that both the Illinois House and Senate vote positively to affirm recommendations by the Compensation Review Board.,” Kaempfe vowed.

In addition, the current law makes the proposed pay raises all or nothing. Kaempfe’s proposed legislation would allow the legislature to revise recommended pay raises down, but not up. If the Board recommends 11.7% but the legislators do not believe the full amount is justified, affordable, or reflective of the wishes of the citizens, they could lower the increase by any amount rather than just rejecting in total.

“What ever the case,” Kaempfe said, “the legislator must vote to approve it. This would give the public an idea who was voting for unrealistic or undeserved pay raises.”

Kaempfe invites comment on his proposal by e-mail at robert.kaempfe@yahoo.com.

A McHenry County official has been quoted on TV as saying his pay raise is to high.

Before you conclude that the sky is falling, did you know there are two McHenry Counties?

But there really were nine local McHenry County board members who voted against the $100,000-plus salaries for countywide officials.

The North Dakota county board officials voted themselves a $50 a month raise—up 6%. They now make $822 per month.

The Illinois county board voted 4% per year raises in each of the next four years.

Of course, the base salary in Illinois is a lot, lot more than in North Dakota.

The North Dakota namesake has about 6,000 people.