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The Oswego Village Board voted to more than double the salary of the village president and increase pay for the village’s six trustees during a meeting March 15.
The position of village president is considered to be part-time. Currently, with a base salary of $6,600 and $50 per meeting, the village president can earn up to $8,400 annually.
As approved by the board, the village president will make a base salary of $14,400 and earn $75 per meeting, increasing the total salary up to $18,000
Village trustees currently make a base salary of $3,600 and $50 per meeting for a total possible salary of $6,000.
As approved by the board, trustees will make a base salary of $5,500 and $75 per meeting, increasing the total salary up to $9,100.
The planning and zoning commissioner’s compensation will also be increased from $25 per meeting to $50, as approved by the board.
State law bars the board and other elected officials from increasing their own compensation. As a result, the increases will go into effect for those candidates elected to their positions in 2023 and 2025.
This is the first time Oswego elected officials’ compensation has been increased since 2006.
Trustee Brian Thomas suggested modeling the elected officials’ compensation package around the one recently adopted by the Yorkville City Council.
Trustee Kit Kuhrt, however, objected and asked to table the matter for further discussion.
“We’re always talking about following somebody else,” Kuhrt said. “We’re Oswego, we should do our own thing.”
Kuhrt had similar objections during a committee of the whole meeting Jan. 11 when village staff first presented the pay increase proposal to the board.
Trustee Jennifer Jones-Sinnot motioned to amend the ordinance adding the option for elected officials to opt-in to the village’s health insurance plan at 100% cost to the official, and to increase the amended base salary from $3,600 to $5,500, in line with what Yorkville recently imposed. The motion passed 6-0.
Kuhrt motioned to amend the ordinance to send the increases to a referendum, but the motion died for lack of a second.
Village Attorney Karl Ottosen advised the board against holding a referendum on the pay hike proposal during a committee of the whole meeting Jan. 11.
“You’re elected to make these decisions and not to send these decisions back to the public that you are representing,” Ottosen said.
The board approved the ordinance to increase the president’s and trustees’ pay as amended with a 5-1 vote, Kuhrt being the only opposing vote. The ordinance to increase the planning and zoning commissioner’s pay passed 6-0.