Running on a balanced budget might be good for the Town of Highland as a whole, but it likely won’t yield raises for its employees this year.
The town’s department heads told the Town Council during a study session Monday night that they might be able to find money for a 1 percent raise if the council insisted. For some, other items would have to fall by the wayside because they weren’t asked to include raises in their budgets for the year.
Highland Police Chief Pete Hojnicki said he would have a better sense of his numbers closer to the end of the year, but he cautioned that money is typically used for items for which they don’t immediately need, but don’t include in the budget overall, such as stun guns. Parks Superintendent Alex Brown, on the other hand, said his department brought in $50,000 more in revenue than anticipated, so he could provide a 1.5 percent for the last half of the year.
Highland Fire Chief Bill Timmer, meanwhile, said with dwindling number of volunteer firefighters in his ranks, the town might have hire some full-time firefighters. Building Director Ken Mika, Public Works Director John Bach and Redevelopment Director Kathy Deguilio-Fox also expressed trepidation at the raises but said they would try to find money if directed by the council.
Clerk-Treasurer Michael Griffin said higher insurance costs further hindered the departments from having extra funds for raises. Additionally, the town has met its reserve requirements it’s set out to maintain a balanced budget, and he commended the departments for that.
The town, however, tries to treat workers the same with regard to raises, meaning either all or none receive one at the same time, officials said.
“Bonuses don’t help because they don’t affect pensions enough,” Griffin said after the session. “We just have to be smarter (for next year).”
Going forward, Griffin recommended the council once again consider ventures where Highland could share tax base with another municipality, such as combining its Parks Department with the Town of Griffith’s. Councilman Dan Vassar, D-3, rejected the idea.
“Highland is Highland, and as far as I’m concerned, it’s going to stay Highland,” he said.
Highland in 2005 explored the idea of creating a fire territory with the Town of Munster. It, too, was overwhelmingly rejected at the time by many in both towns.
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.