County budget woes could spur changes
By JONATHAN BILYK - jbilyk@kcchronicle.com
GENEVA – Concerns over Kane County’s budget might soon prompt some big changes at the Kane County Sheriff’s Department.
Wednesday, during a special meeting, the Kane County Board’s Finance and Budget Committee voted to approve an ordinance reducing the number of sworn deputies allowed to be appointed and hired within the sheriff’s department from 95 to 87. The committee also approved a resolution laying out an early retirement plan to help cut payroll.
The measure will next go to the Kane County Board’s Executive Committee for further discussion, before likely heading to the full county board for a vote later this month.
The measure would not force Kane County Sheriff Pat Perez to immediately reduce the number of deputies to bring the number of sworn officers to 87. Rather, Perez would be prevented from replacing any deputies until the number of deputies on the payroll drops to 86.
Presently, the office operates with 90 sworn deputies, even though county ordinance allows him to appoint 95, Perez said.
Supporters of the measure believe it will help the sheriff’s office bring its budget into line with the county’s economic situation. Earlier this year, the board ordered all county offices to reduce spending by 5.5 percent.
Perez told board members that he understands the county’s tight budget situation.
But he voiced concerns that the cuts could impact public safety.
He noted that sheriff’s deputies are obligated by law to perform duties beyond patrol, including serving eviction and foreclosure notices.
Perez asked board members to wait until September before acting on the force reductions, as the department expects to know by September how many officers will have their salaries paid through a federal Community-Oriented Policing Services grant.
Perez said no officers are currently paid for through the COPS grant program. He has asked the U.S. Department of Justice for funding for eight deputies.
Perez also asked the county board to re-examine how the county divides RTA sales tax revenue. He said the sheriff’s department could receive a larger share, allowing him greater latitude in maintaining the force.
Board members, however, said the measure is necessary, as it could help the sheriff reorganize the department to generate more efficiency and spur deputies to more seriously consider the county’s early retirement incentive package.
“It may take a few years to get to that 87 number,” said board member John Fahy, R-West Dundee. “But the hierarchy of the department will reorganize, duties will change.
“It may be that someone who has been working in an office for 15 years may say, ‘I’m not ready to go back on the street,’ and may choose to take early retirement instead.”
The early retirement package would be offered to all county employees who are at least 50 years old and have worked for the county for at least 20 years. Under the program, participants could either elect to continue receiving health insurance at 50 percent cost through the county for five years or receive a one-time additional incentive payment of $7,500.
Employees wishing to accept the offer must do so by Aug. 31. They then would have until Nov. 30 to end their employment with the county.
