Zoning director proposes assistant director pay increase and modest budget adjustments

Stephenson County zoning director Beth Gilmore presented a preliminary budget overview to the county board on Aug. 12 and asked the board to consider increasing the assistant director’s merit adjustment from 4% to 6%. Gilmore said a 6% increase would raise Assistant Director Nicole’s annual pay to $45,845 from $44,009.87 under a 4% increase and would add approximately $858 in annual salary costs plus associated employer contributions to retirement and Social Security. Why it matters: Personnel costs are a recurring portion of the county budget; Gilmore characterized the requested increase as recognition for long service and expanded responsibilities, saying the assistant director has been with the county 17 years and with zoning two-and-a-half years and can perform nearly all director duties when needed. Other budget notes included modest adjustments: retaining $3,000 for code enforcement trust for equipment over $500, increasing fuel from $1,600 to $1,800, raising building maintenance allocation to $5,200 and boosting meeting and seminar funds to $2,000. Gilmore said she did not expect a decision that night and offered to meet with any board member for questions. Discussion vs. decision: The director asked the board to consider the change and to review the requested personal-request form; no vote or formal approval occurred at the meeting. Ending: Gilmore said she will be out briefly later in the week and urged board members to contact her with questions; the board did not take final budget action at the meeting.