Waste panel cuts '09 budge, nixes pay raises

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BY BILL DOLAN
bdolan@nwitimes.com
219.662.5328 | Friday, September 05, 2008 | (9 comment(s))

CROWN POINT | Lake County officials voted Thursday night to reduce their waste recycling budget and turned down raises for the staff ranging from 5 to 35 percent.

However, seven of the district's employees appear likely to get a more modest salary increase when a committee of the Solid Waste Board debates the issue further and returns with recommendations as early as next week.

The normally low-profile Lake County Solid Waste Management District came under sharp criticism this summer for its longtime policy of awarding four take-home cars to its director and staff and having the public pick up the tab for thousands of dollars in business luncheons and other travel expenses.

Executive Director Jeffery Langbehn responded in June by parking those take-home cars and banning business lunches, but the board restored the vehicles last month after Langbehn said using them was cheaper than mileage or cash travel allowances.

Langbehn told 18 members of the board present Thursday that he is proposing a $5.1 million budget for 2009. That is $458,000, or 8 percent, less than this year. One full-time job will be eliminated. The board approved those reductions.

Langbehn said there will be no reduction in the county's recycling program.

He argued passionately to give raises of more than $31,000 to a staff that has received cash bonuses for award-winning work, but had no base pay increase in the last four years. The board rejected that by a 10-8 vote.

Board members said many in government are doing without any raises.

"Approving salary increases of 17 percent, 20 percent and 26 percent would be sending the wrong message," Crown Point Mayor David Uran, also a board member, said.

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WWJVBD wrote on Sep 6, 2008 7:23 AM:

" The 10 to 8 vote went NO: Cedar Lake, Crown Point, Dyer, Griffith, Hobart,Lake County Council, Lake County Comm, Lake Station, St. John & Schererville to the budget. Yes: Griffith, Highland, Lowell, Munster, Munster New Chicago, Sneider and Winfield to the budget "

WWJVBD wrote on Sep 6, 2008 7:17 AM:

" For your info you are WRONG... the tax rate is between $.10 and $.15 per $100 assessed. Most of the awards come from our state government "the governors award" and when looked at in detail are nothing but fluff. Remember the Futuristic tile project they won an award for that. The project never went to completion. And lets not forget the breach of contract that occurred with the regiional landfill project. That had to be settled for millions of dollars which the district still has to pay off with our tax dollars. The claim of cutting its budget each and every year is also hogwash. This district has never offered to the public how the money is SPENT at the end of the year. Eventhough the public has asked for that accounting. Efficient operations? check this cause number No. 45A04-0605-CV-243 with the IN Court of Appeals and read how efficient the staff & members are with their contract skills....Not on my dime! "

TO Bill Dolan wrote on Sep 5, 2008 11:50 AM:

" PLEASE list the names and the communities of the members and how they voted on this. "

for your info wrote on Sep 5, 2008 11:43 AM:

" the solid waste district is one of the most efficient operations of all lake county governmental units. it has voluntarily cut its budget each and every year for the last five years. it has won every state and national award imaginable. it provides every city and town with recycling grants on an annual basis and pays for all of these recycling dumpsters that we see in supermarket, department store and school parking lots that we all use. their tax rate is less than two cents for every one hundred dollars of someones assessed value. this is the type of government that all of you overtaxed and cynical bloggers wish for each and every day. if you are not satisified with the way this agency is run, then there is absolutely nothing on this planet that will make you happy. "

WWJVBD wrote on Sep 5, 2008 10:50 AM:

" Primus, don't believe everything you read in the article. Here's what you get when you read the budget papers handed out at the meeting: The $458,471 savings is made up of two main items, line item #442 Contingency was decreased from $324,008 in 2008 to $53,931 in 2009, line item #384 Recyling Grants was DECREASED from $2,950,000 in 2008 to $2,816,058 in 2009. Both these line items combine for a decrease in budget of $404,019 in 2009. Not really much of a tangible belt tightening? Can the WASTE board staff explain what they spent the $324,008 contingency for in 2008? And contrary to what was said the recycling grants will be DECREASED. Oh, and don't worry about the staff's food cost just look at the credit card receipts and count up the multitude of free meals they are given. The last one in June was dinner for four staff for over $400. Mayor Uran and the other nine board members please keep the pressure on, stop this WASTE of tax dollars "

Get Real wrote on Sep 5, 2008 9:36 AM:

" There were 9 other board members that also voted down the proposed raises. The newspaper should posted the salaries and proposed increases. The director who makes 93k wanted a 18% raise taken him to 112k. That is alot of milk! The Mayor from CP also stated he was infavor of raises, but not at that level. "

to primus wrote on Sep 5, 2008 9:31 AM:

" ""Approving salary increases of 17 percent, 20 percent and 26 percent would be sending the wrong message" who the heck gets that % now a 3% might have passed but more than 5% it to much.
What a joke. "

primus wrote on Sep 5, 2008 7:57 AM:

" Don't you just love how Board Members that don't actually work for the entities from which they are a board member are always for saving money for that entity. Here the guy saves 458,000.00 bucks for next year yet he can't get a raise for his people that he works with and believes deserve a raise. For Christs sake our whole County Government can't save 458,000 bucks but one entity can. Hey Uran do you actually know anything about the Waste Management operation? Don't you know that fuel and food costs are up. That these people might actually need a raise. That maybe they deserve one. Who got the wrong message here? Good thing for you nobody liked the lady you ran against or maybe you'd be needing a raise about now. "

Over Taxed wrote on Sep 5, 2008 5:15 AM:

" Langbehan needs to go.
Take home cars need to be parked.
COKA raises are OK
Who decided that bonuses were in order, just for doing the job?
18 people on the board - it's only trash, not the gold reserve. Lets half it.
Want a take home car, PAY the county the 50 or so cents that they would pay you if you used your car for County business. "

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