Why did Boone County Probation get a larger raise than the rest of the county?

October 18, 2012

Dennis J. Meyers, Director

Department of Court Services

Seventeenth Judicial Circuit

Winnebago-Boone Counties

403 Elm Street

Rockford, IL 61101

Dear Dennis:

The unilateral position on Boone County Probation Department wages the Chief Judge and you have dictated creates a problem for the evaluation process the Boone County Board was attempting to conduct. Generally speaking, the county was trying to keep wage increases in the 2-1/2 % range--considering fairness to all departments in the county. The arbitration award for the Boone County Corrections unit amounted to a 1.5% increase for FY 2013.

The fiscal restraint and fiscally prudent manner in practicing sound business management falls on deaf ears in Boone County because your decision was made without consideration of the unilateral impact on the County Board Finance Committee's goal to create a sensitive and fair wage package.

It was not a team decision, and apparently was made without thought to the impact it would have on the whole of Boone County.

I disagree with your process, and your decision.

Sincerely yours,

• Patrick B. Mattison
• Boone County Board Member District 3
• 7982 Distillery Road
• Belvidere, IL 61008

cc: Hon. Joseph G. McGraw, Chief Judge 17th Judicial Court

Harold V. Hawkinson - Deputy Director, Boone County