Lake County Board members boost their pay

Panel recommends 15.5% hike over four years

By the year 2012, the average salary for Lake County elected officials will be a little more than $44,000.

The Lake County Board Finance and Administrative Committee Wednesday approved the allocation of salary increases for the 23 board members.

Under the terms of the proposal, board members will receive a 4 percent salary increase for the first two years of their terms and 3.75 percent for the final two years of the term starting in December.

According to finance chairman Brent Paxton of Zion, the committee had to set the compensation for elected officials no less than six months before those officials take office.

Paxton also said it was necessary to set compensation for members of the county board that will be elected for the years 2009 through 2012, and the chairman of the county board for the years 2009 and 2010.

The increases were recommended to stay consistent with salaries set for other county officials, Paxton said.

Board member Bob Sabonjian was against the increase in salary for elected officials, considering residents are forced to deal with the growing costs of energy expenses.

"It is not right that board members vote to increase their salary," he said. "I think it is inappropriate to do that when the average man is making less money."

Even though Paxton brought the 4 percent increase proposal to the table, he also disagreed with fellow board members getting pay hikes out of fear some members might vote for larger raises.

"I think we get paid pretty well already for what we do," he said. I don't want to see an increase of 25 percent."

A public meeting will be held on the matter May 9.