ROCKFORD — State lawmakers pushed forward a bill to increase daily pay for jurors, but it’s local counties that will have to cover the cost if Gov. Pat Quinn signs the measure into law.
Beginning in June, juror pay would rise to $25 for the first day and $50 for each additional day under legislation approved by both houses of the Illinois General Assembly during this week’s veto session. The current law allows minimum pay of $4 to $10 a day, depending on the county. The goal of the bill was to make fulfilling the civic duty less of a financial hardship, especially for those who drive long distances to get to the courthouse.
Officials in Boone, Winnebago and Stephenson counties say a pay raise for jurors could strain local budgets. Jurors in Winnebago County are paid $13 a day and the increase could cost the county an additional $250,000 to $300,000 a year, according to estimates from Winnebago County Administrator Steve Chapman. The county paid about $127,000 for jurors in the last fiscal year, Chapman said. But that number fluctuates based on the number of trials. The county also pays about $6,000 a month to cover parking costs for jurors.
Winnebago County Board Chairman Scott Christiansen labeled the legislation “another unfunded mandate” from the state and said it would force the county to explore cuts in its nearly $52 million general fund.
“With the issues they have facing them in Springfield, the fact that they’d even make this a priority is just bizarre,” Christiansen said.
“We’d have to cut somewhere. We don’t have any extra funds. ... We’re already strapped.”
Stephenson County jurors are paid $10 a day. The county spends about $21,000 a year to pay jurors, which would more than double under the proposed increase. Stephenson County Administrator John Light said it would be “devastating” to the county’s budget.
“The proposed unfunded mandate would likely more than double the county’s expense without providing any revenue to make up for the legislated increase,” Light said.
Boone County spent $47,132 last fiscal year to pay its jurors and that’s expected to at least double, according to Boone County Administrator Ken Terrinoni. Boone pays jurors $12 per day. Terrinoni said it’s difficult to estimate the additional cost because the county didn’t have records immediately available that show how frequently jurors are needed past the first day, when the pay rate would double. He estimates a minimum $50,000 to $75,000 would be needed from the county’s $15.5 million general fund budget.
Winnebago, Boone county officials rankled by plan to boost pay for jurors - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL
