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Boone County Government Employee Compensation

Better Government Association updates payroll, pension databases

July 9, 2014

• Access salary, retirement data on 1.5 million public-sector workers, retirees in Illinois

Staff Report

CHICAGO — Want to know how much government employees are being paid in Illinois? Or how much public-sector retirees are collecting in pension benefits? Or who stands to collect a taxpayer-subsidized pension some day? Then visit the BGA’s free “Payroll,” “Pension” and “Pension Outlook” databases — all newly updated with the most recently available information and, in the case of the Payroll Database, greatly expanded.

What’s more, new search functions make it easier for visitors to search by name, agency and salary range.

They are all available through the BGA’s home page, www.bettergov.org, under the “Resources” heading, or at the following direct links:

• http://www.bettergov.org/payroll/;

• http://www.bettergov.org/pension/; and

• http://www.bettergov.org/vestedpension/.

All told, about 1.5 million government employees and retirees are included in the databases.

“Taxpayers shell out a lot of money for government in Illinois, and a large part of those tax dollars go toward salaries and benefits,” said BGA President and CEO Andy Shaw. “We created these databases so people can see where their tax money is going — and so taxpayers can judge whether public agencies are being fair and frugal in their personnel spending.”

The Payroll Database was expanded considerably, now with nearly 450 public agencies, and about 650,000 public-sector workers. That’s up from roughly 100 public agencies in the database’s last iteration.

The Payroll Database also now includes payrolls for all 102 Illinois counties, and nearly every municipality in the six-county Chicago region.

The Pension and Pension Outlook databases continue to offer retirement information from the largest public-sector pension funds, including those covering retirees and current and former employees from the City of Chicago, State of Illinois, Cook County, Chicago Transit Authority, and other agencies.

These databases complement the BGA’s other web offerings, including the “FBI Files” portal, which includes FBI files on deceased government-related officials with ties to Illinois. That database was recently updated as well. It can be accessed at the following link — http://www.bettergov.org/resources/the_fbi_files.aspx — or through the BGA’s home page.

The Better Government Association is a Chicago-based nonprofit, nonpartisan watchdog group that works for integrity, transparency and accountability in government by exposing corruption and inefficiency; identifying and advocating effective public policy; and engaging and mobilizing the public to achieve authentic and responsible reform.

Unemployment Benefits Extension 2014: Job Gains Bypassing Most 25-to-34 Year-olds

By Associated Press | August 3, 2014

A consequence of the influx of job-seekers last month is that the unemployment rate rose for women, African-Americans, high school graduates and people with some college experience. But the overall trend for the past 12 months is clear: The unemployment rate is steadily dropping for almost everyone.

Unemployment rate by group:

* Not seasonally adjusted

Source: Labor Department

Read more by clicking on the following:  http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/839935-unemployment-benefits-extension-2014-job-gains-bypassing-25-to-34-year-olds/

Chris Christie Wins Lawsuit to Exempt Himself From New Jersey's Open Records Laws

By David Sirota

Chris Christie is traveling around the country in advance of a possible 2016 presidential run. Who's picking up the tab for all these trips? He doesn't have to tell.  The New Jersey governor's office this week won a court ruling allowing it to exempt itself from disclosure rules, and it's permitted to conceal state records documenting which private interests are financing his nationwide political tour.

The case against Christie revolved around New Jersey Watchdog's request for records about more than "60 unofficial out-of-state trips Christie has taken since 2012." New Jersey Watchdog is a journalism project of the conservative Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity.

According to New Jersey rules, private third parties "may agree to pay for participation at an event by state employees," but documentation of those payments must be "retained with the department's or agency's records."

When he took office in 2010, Christie pledged to usher in "a new era of accountability and transparency," and he signed an executive order declaring that "the Governor shall not solicit, receive, or agree to receive, directly or indirectly, any ... meals, lodging, travel expenses or anything of monetary value intended to influence him in the conduct of his public duties."

This week in court, however, Christie's officials cited a 1979 letter from then-Gov. Brendan Byrne to argue that they can waive these rules for the governor.

Read the entire article by clicking on the following:  http://www.ibtimes.com/chris-christie-wins-lawsuit-exempt-himself-new-jerseys-open-records-laws-1646518

The Secret to a Tattoo's Permanence: The Immune System

 

It turns out your ethereal watercolored bird is kind of like an infection—and the reason it's permanent is because your body keeps on fighting it forever.

Tattoo needles punch through the epidermis, the outer layer of skin, and drive the ink into the dermis, the deeper layer that's mottled with nerves and blood vessels.

"Every time the needle penetrates, it causes a wound that alerts the body to begin the inflammatory process," the video explains. That signal sends immune system cells racing to the site of the wound (or multiple wounds, in the case of the five-inch dragon breathing fire across your chest).

Special cells called macrophages come to the rescue, eating up the dye in an attempt to "clean up" the inflammation it's causing. The rest of the dye gets soaked up by skin cells called fibroblasts. The fibroblasts, along with many of the macrophages, stay suspended in the dermis in perpetuity.

The dye in the bellies of the trapped macrophages and fibroblasts shows through the skin, projecting your Chinese word for "love" or constellation of tiny blue stars to the outside world

Read the entire article by clicking on the following:  https://us-mg6.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.rand=4n68koiefpm6h

Health & Human Services Committee “moves to build new Animal Services Building on ROUTE 76”

July 31—The H&HS committee of the Boone County Board voted to build a 2,700 square foot animal shelter off of Route 76 near Maplecrest Nursing Home and the County Highway Department.  The vote was 3-0 with one abstaining and one not present. The decision is subject to the approval of the entire county board on August 20, 2014.

Last year the county board increased dog tags by $5.00 pre year with the funds dedicated to building improvement and maintenance.

Below are the rough plans and cost estimates.  The committee’s action limited cost to $713,000. Alternative plans to build the facility on the old site on Appleton Road were also discussed. Below are the preliminary figures and drawings presented by the architect.

Below are the alternatives which were rejected.

First, a summary of costs for the above shown “new building” on the current Appleton Road Site.

Second, a summary of costs of using the old facility as a base—renovate and upgrade adding 900 square feet.  All at the Appleton Road site.