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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
CALLING FOR A REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION REGARDING ELECTED OFFICIAL COMPENSATION
WHEREAS, the County of Cook is a home rule unit pursuant to Article VII, Section 6 of the 1970 Illinois Constitution; and
WHEREAS, as a home rule unit, Cook County may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs; and
WHEREAS, the Local Government Officer Compensation Act (50 ILCS 145/ 1, et seq.) provides that the salary of elected officers of units of local government, including home rule units, shall be fixed at least 180 days before the beginning of the terms of the office; and
WHEREAS, the offices of County Sheriff, County Clerk, and County Treasurer will commence terms of office on December I, 2022 and the Office of Board of Commissioners, Finance Chairman, President of the Board, Members of the Board of Review, and County Assessor will commence terms of office on December 5, 2022; and
WHEREAS, the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County will commence term of office on December 1, 2024; and
WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners last approved salary increases for the various Cook County elected officials in 2000 via Resolution 00-R-013;
WHEREAS, Resolution 00-R-013 provided for the Circuit Court Clerk’s salary to be fixed at $105,000 commencing on December 1, 2000 and salaries were also fixed and increased commencing in December of 2002 for the Board of Commissioners at $85,000 from $61,000; Finance Chair at $90,000; President at $170,000 from $115,000; Assessor at $125,000 from $75,000; Board of Review Members at $100,000 from $74,000; County Clerk and Treasurer at $105,000 from $86,100 and Sheriff at $160,000 from $139,633; and
WHEREAS, various other units of local government have increased elected official compensation since the Cook County Board approved salary increases in 2000 and some units of local government have accounted for annual increases throughout an elected officials term tied increases in the consumer price index; and
WHEREAS, efforts should be undertaken to determine whether salary increases are warranted for the various County elected offices for the new terms of office schedule to take effect in 2022 and 2024.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Cook County Board of Commissioners hereby requests that the Cook County Bureau of Human Resources conducts a compensation and market survey to determine if the current compensation provided is appropriate or if increases are warranted for the following elected offices in December of 2022:
1) President of the Cook County Board
2) Finance Chairman of the Cook County Board
3) Each Elected Commissioner of the Cook County Board
4) Cook County Assessor
5) Cook County Clerk
6) Cook County Sheriff
7) Cook County Treasurer
8) Members of the Board of Review
And if the current compensation is appropriate or if an increase is warranted for the office the Circuit Court Clerk in December 2024; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Bureau of Human Resources shall consult with the Bureau of Finance and an economist selected by the Chief Financial Officer to analyze the market over the last 20 years and the Bureau of Human Resources shall also engage the services of an outside consultant to validate the compensation and market data collected; the outside consultant shall assist in determining recommendations regarding elected official compensation data which may include no change in compensation or any suggested increases and if increases in compensation are recommended, how such increases should be structured; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Bureau of Human Resources shall present its findings to the Finance Committee of the Cook County Board of Commissioners no later than March 2022 in the form of a report or presentation and provide its recommendations in the form of a Resolution along with a fiscal impact note from the Bureau of Finance regarding elected official compensation in order for the Finance Committee to review the data and recommendations; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT if the Finance Committee votes to approve the recommendations, they shall be incorporated into the budget for the applicable subsequent fiscal year. If the Finance Committee votes to disapprove the recommendations, the salaries of the various elected offices shall remain the same as in the previous fiscal year.
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