Wheeling Twp. Democrats call for full review of elected officials’ salaries and benefits

Wheeling Twp. Democrats call for full review of elected officials’ salaries and benefits
Democrats will also require elected officials who earn a salary to maintain a work log

Arlington Heights, IL (April 2, 2013) — The incumbent Wheeling Township Republican elected officials voted in 2012 to continue more than $120,000 in taxpayer-funded salaries and benefits for the eight township elected positions.

In response, the Democratic candidates and volunteers have filed three separate FOIA requests inquiring about elected officials’ work logs, time sheets or similar.

The Township’s reply to each FOIA application was that there is no information about the elected officials’ work nor when they are in the office to perform such work.

“We were stunned to learn that the incumbent Republicans voted to pay themselves over $120,000 a year in salaries and benefits yet cannot produce any records indicating what they work on,” said Bob Boros, Democratic candidate for one of the four trustee positions up for election. “We realize these are part-time positions and maybe it’s just a coincidence but every time we’ve been in the township building during open hours none of the highest paid officials are there: the Supervisor, Assessor or Highway Commissioner. As a taxpayer this upsets me and is one of reasons I decided to run for this office.”

Boros is a recently retired design engineer. He and his wife live in Mt. Prospect.

“Once elected, we will conduct a top to bottom review of exactly what the incumbents were doing that they think taxpayers needed to pay them more than $120,000 in salaries and benefits,” said Nikos Tsonis, another Democratic candidate for one of the four trustee positions. “Given the lack of existing work records we believe we’ll be able to save money by matching salaries to actual work performed. Any savings would then be used to support township services.”

“We will also develop a policy to require elected officials to maintain a work record so the public can see what they’re being paid for,” Tsonis concluded. “This is all part of our vision to make Wheeling Township as efficient and accountable for the taxpayers as possible.”

Tsonis is a property tax attorney running his own law firm helping people and businesses reduce their property taxes. He grew up in Wheeling where he currently resides.

A 2011 Daily Herald report found that Wheeling Township’s incumbent Supervisor was the third-highest paid Supervisor in Cook County even though he is not a full-time Supervisor. Wheeling Township does also have a full-time, non-elected Administrator who runs day to day operations for the township and earns a six-figure income for her work.

The incumbent Supervisor and Highway Commissioner also receive taxpayer-funded pension benefits.

In addition, each of the four Township Trustees is paid $4,444 per year for only a dozen Township Board meetings (one per month) plus an Annual Township Meeting. A separate 2011 Daily Herald study found that Wheeling Township trustees were among the few township officials to give themselves taxpayer-funded benefits for dental and vision.

The following table is based on the 2012-13 Wheeling Township employee salary and benefits schedule:

Supervisor
Salary: $38,895
Pension: $4,197

Clerk
Salary: $18,533

Assessor
Salary: $26,700

Highway Commissioner
Salary: $18,533
Pension: $2,000

Trustee 1
Salary: $4,444

Trustee 2
Salary: $4,444

Trustee 3
Salary: $4,444

Trustee 4
Salary: $4,444

The Democratic candidates for Wheeling Township are:
- Fred Arenas for Township Supervisor
- Don Bussey for Township Assessor
- Marc Adelman for Township Clerk
- Mike MacDonald for Township Highway Commissioner
- Kim Simmons for Township Trustee
- Siobhan White for Township Trustee
- Nikos Tsonis for Township Trustee
- Bob Boros for Township Trustee

Elements of the Wheeling Township Democratic platform include:
- Reducing property taxes
- Ensuring elected officials' salaries are commensurate with actual work performed -- cutting salaries if those officials do not actually perform work
- Creating a Wheeling Township Economic Council to help taxpayers, local businesses and job-seekers
- Developing a plan to reduce layers of government by transferring responsibility for township roads to the board (eliminating the Highway Commissioner position)
- Protecting vital township services by implementing Budgeting for Results policies including competitive bidding, cutting waste and improving transparency

Wheeling Township encompasses parts or all of Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Des Plaines, Mount Prospect, Prospect Heights, and Wheeling.

Election Day is April 9th. Early voting runs from March 25 - April 6.

Voters can learn more at http://Dems4LowerTaxes.com