The Cook County Board of Commissioners voted May 24 to give its members a 10% raise in December, followed by automatic annual pay increases up to 3% each year while working. The board voted 13-4 in support of funding the raises despite concerns from the minority members and civic groups about the promised perpetual raises…
The Cook County Board of Commissioners voted May 24 to give its members a 10% raise in December, followed by automatic annual pay increases up to 3% each year while working.
The board voted 13-4 in support of funding the raises despite concerns from the minority members and civic groups about the promised perpetual raises to politicians during times of economic hardship.
President of the Cook County League of Women Voters Cynthia Schilsky said members of her organization supported the raises for the officials – but not indefinitely. The Civic Federation similarly opposed the automatic pay raise provision.
“We elect these people to serve in their office, and they should be required to be transparent about what they’re saying their salaries are,” Schilsky told the Tribune. “It would be much better, to the point, that they vote on it rather than just have it continue forever.”
Other board members like Sean Morrison voted against the measure, arguing that now was not the time for county officials to be considering pay raises.
“It’s not the type of situation that I think we need to be in,” Morrison told the Tribune after the vote. “We have inflation that’s up. People are paying $5 for gasoline. … I do not believe this is the time for it.”
The cost-of-living adjustment would increase the officials’ salaries by 3% each year or the Chicago region consumer price index – whichever is smaller – without requiring an annual vote. Over the last 12 months, the index has increased 7.2%.
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