Grundy board OKs pay cut

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Updated: October 31, 2011 2:47PM

MORRIS — Future county board members will receive overall less compensation than the current board, according to a resolution passed by the county board.

In an almost partisan vote of 11-6, board members recently set the salaries for board members who will be elected to two- and four-year terms in November 2012. Democrat Jeremy Ly voted with the 10 Republicans to approve the new salaries. Republican Chris Balkema was absent.

Currently the salaries for the board members range from $6,451 for those with a $85 per meeting compensation to $6,500 for those with a $75 per meeting compensation. The new salaries for all members elected in 2012 will be set at $6,500 plus $80 per meeting.

Mileage reimbursement was not set and will be determined annually based on the IRS-approved rate.

The decrease in overall compensation also comes from the fact that an extra travel stipend which the current board receives was omitted.

The base salary for the future chairman will increase to $42,500 from the $23,691 currently received by Chairman Ron Severson. However, the $100 per diem received by the chairman will be cut. The chairman will continue to get mileage reimbursement at the approved IRS rate.

The stipend for the chairman’s role as liquor commissioner will remain at $2,500.

Severson noted during the meeting that total compensation for the chairman last year was estimated at about $71,000.

The notable omission of the chairman’s meeting per diem comes after public accusations made by board member David Welter earlier this year that former Chairman Frank Halpin allegedly took questionable per diem reimbursements.

Welter had announced in February that he had turned over the alleged findings of his investigation to the state’s attorney’s office. However, no charges have been filed against Halpin.

Ly said that he went against others in his party because the new salaries do show an overall decrease in compensation.

Board member Dick Joyce, one of the six Democrats to vote against the resolution, said that it was “premature” to set salaries. State law requires that the board set salaries of elected officials 180 days prior to their election.