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Finance committee delays decision on nonunion raises, seeks insurance figures first
Summary
LaSalle County Finance Committee voted to recommend tabling a proposed nonunion pay increase until September so staff can provide updated health insurance cost projections; committee discussed options including longevity stipends and percentage increases.
The LaSalle County Finance Committee voted Aug. 12 to recommend tabling a resolution on proposed raises for nonunion county employees until the September meeting after members said they needed updated health insurance cost projections.
Committee Chair Doug Treggor led the discussion and asked the visitors representing nonunion employees to summarize their request. A nonunion employee representative said, "We're we're just here just for fairness and equity, pretty much." The group had asked the committee to consider restoring a longevity stipend or increasing percentage raises to reduce pay inequities between nonunion staff and union-covered employees.
Committee members focused much of the debate on the interaction between a proposed across‑the‑board percentage raise and expected increases in employee health insurance costs. Finance committee member Greg Emmett cautioned that a large insurance premium increase would reduce the net value of any raise: "I'd I'd love to give people 5%, but I I don't wanna give them 5% now I'm gonna give them another 4% because of our insurance." Melissa, identified in the meeting as a benefits/HR staffer, told the committee that the broker had indicated renewal figures would probably be available in the next week or two but could not promise a firm number at the meeting.
Officials reviewed a cost worksheet that showed a 5% across‑the‑board increase would add roughly $120,000 annually for nonunion employees, while restoring a $475 yearly longevity stipend would cost about $60,000. Committee members discussed a combination approach but agreed they needed the insurance renewal estimate before recommending a specific package to the full board.
By motion of member Greg Emmett, seconded in discussion, the committee voted to recommend tabling the resolution until the September meeting so staff could obtain insurance renewal figures and refine cost estimates. The committee did not set a specific recommended raise; the resolution will return to the full board from its current tabled status with any committee recommendation attached.
The committee discussed next steps for the agenda item and said they could convene another brief meeting if the broker provided numbers before the scheduled September session.
