2 More Oppose Public Defender Raise


	Print or Email This Page 2 More Oppose Public Defender Raise July 12, 2006 Pantagraph By Mary Ann Ford Bloomington - Two more McLean County Board members oppose using state money to pay for a proposed hefty pay raise for the public defender, fearing it will prompt other county employees to seek raises. "We'll have a parade of others wanting to be upgraded," said Paul Segobiano, vice chairman of the Land Use and Development Committee. "It's a rather tremendous increase. Whether it comes from state or county money, it's all taxpayer's money," he said. Tari Renner, chairman of the County Board's Justice Committee, agreed during the County Board's Executive Committee meeting Tuesday. "I can't support this," Renner said. "It's 40 percent. This is why people get mad at government." Renner and Segobiano were the only two of the eight Executive Committee members present Tuesday who voted against the recommendation. County Board members Dave Selzer and Ben Owens previously voted against the recommendation at a Finance Committee meeting last week. The state's 2006-07 fiscal year budget includes money to reimburse counties for two-thirds of the public defender's salary if the public defender is a full-time employee, doesn't have an outside legal practice and is paid 90 percent of what the county pays its state's attorney. Currently, the county pays the entire $94,643 annual salary for Public Defender Amy Davis. To qualify for the state reimbursement, Davis' salary would have to be bumped up to $139,489 - 90 percent of State's Attorney Bill Yoder's $154,987 salary. If the county makes the change, the state would pick up $93,489 of the salary, leaving the county with only $46,450 - a $48,193 savings over what the county currently pays the public defender. County Administrator John Zeunik said the provision always has been on the books but there's never been any money in the state budget for reimbursement until this fiscal year, which started July 1. It only affects a slightly more than 30 counties. "Just because it's earmarked, doesn't mean they have to release it," Segobiano said. But Assistant County Administrator Terry Lindberg said the money can be used only to reimburse counties for the public defender's salary, "so not releasing it doesn't gain anything." Finance Committee Chairman Matt Sorensen said while he may not agree with the steep salary increase, he favors this proposal. "I voted for the taxpayers," he said. "To not take this $93,000 from the state means we'll leave it to sit in Springfield and it probably won't benefit the people of McLean County." Sorensen said the $48,000 savings would be added to the county's 2007 budget and "have a positive impact on taxes." The issue will go to the County Board on July 18.
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