In a recent examination of the Village of Schaumburg’s Treasurer’s Report from 2002-2003 and 2008-2009, we found that the salaries for Village employees are skyrocketing in comparison to area residents. The statistics we found should be a major cause for concern for elected officials and the taxpayers of Schaumburg.

Below are the findings from the Treasurer’s Reports:

• From 2002-2003 FY to 2008-2009 FY the number of employees making between $75K and $100K increased from 123 employees to 255 employees, a 107% increase.
• The number of employees making between $100K and $125K increased from 19 employees to 62 employees, a 226% increase.
• The number of employees making between $125K and $150K increased from 1 employee to 12 employees, a 1100% increase.
• The number of employees making between $150K and $175K increased from 0 employees to 2 employees.
• The number of employees making between $175K and $200K increased from 0 employees to 1 employee.
• The number of employees making between $200K and $225K increased from 0 employees to 1 employee.
• The number of employees making over $75K increased from 143 employees to 333 employees, a 132% increase.
• The number of employees making over $100K increased from 20 employees to 78 employees, a 290% increase.

Certainly there are many Village of Schaumburg employees that deserve their salaries, including individuals in the public works, police, and fire departments. Also, many of these employees worked overtime to increase their compensation. Still, these skyrocketing salary statistics are alarming, especially since these numbers don’t include the very comfy government employee pension or health benefits.

Considering the “dire” economic situation and property tax proposal of the Village, couldn’t they propose a 10% cut for all employees including senior management? Or at the very least couldn’t the Village consider freezing all salary raises effective immediately?

The Village of Schaumburg shouldn’t be proposing a massive property tax hike where the taxpayers end up shouldering 100% of the burden. The management and staff of the Village should shoulder some of the burden, especially considering that the Village board has already raised taxes 17 times since 1987, and the Village government grew almost 300% over that same time period.

While some may not consider the explosive growth in government employees making over $75K a serious problem, it is important to consider that the average median HOUSEHOLD income in Schaumburg is only $60,491 per year.

There is increasingly a larger and larger prosperity divide between the citizens who pay the taxes and the government employees who are paid with taxpayer dollars, not only in Schaumburg, but on a statewide and national level. Now with Schaumburg’s new property tax proposal this divide is poised to get even larger.

Let’s take a second look at Village salaries before we permanently commit to a new huge property tax that will punish local residents and businesses.

Related posts:

1. Schaumburg’s Out of Control Spending Continues, Expenditure Caps Needed From 1987-2009 Schaumburg's budget grew 260% faster than population growth...
2. News Alert: Costin Calls Schaumburg’s Budget Increases Reckless Costin has pledged to repeal the property tax and enact...