Madison County board members will take a cue from voters when they decide whether county officials and employees should be allowed to "double dip," that is, to draw a pension from a previous position while also earning a salary in a subsequent one.
According to county finance records, four elected officials are earning close to or more than $200,000 in pension plus salary, and two others running for county office who collect pensions would earn close to or more than $200,000 if elected.
-Circuit Clerk Mark Von Nida earns $123,125 in total salary plus a pension of $91,131 for having previously served as the elected County Clerk, for a total of $214,256.
-Former regional superintendent of schools Bob Daiber earns a $103,000 pension and is seeking election as county board chairman that pays a salary of $107,360, for a total of $210,360.
-Coroner Steve Nonn earns $123,125 in total salary plus a pension of $48,297 as a retired Sheriff's deputy, for a total of $171,422.
-East Alton Mayor Joe Silkwood earns $60,081 in salary and a pension of $62,941 as retired village treasurer and would earn $123,125 in salary if elected Auditor, for a total of $184,326.
-Sheriff John Lakin earns $120,615 in total salary plus a pension of $85,695 for having previously worked in the Sheriff's Department, for a total of $206,310.
-County Clerk Deborah Ming-Mendoza earns $116,611 in total salary plus a pension of $83,014 for having worked as an assessor, for a total of $199,625.
The advisory referendum on the General Election ballot asks “Shall retired Madison County employees and officials drawing a pension be permitted to also draw a salary for service in another position as an employee, official, or independent contractor of Madison County?" But it is non-binding.
County Board member Erica Harriss, who chairs the county's Personnel and Labor Relations Committee, said at a meeting Monday "we'll see what voters have to say."
She pointed to a double dipping ordinance passed in St. Clair County in 2018 that could be a template for what Madison County could adopt.
The ordinance addresses county-wide elective offices, not employees, and reduces salaries for the positions of sheriff, treasurer, assessor, county clerk, auditor, circuit clerk, coroner, board chairman, recorder of deeds and board of review members to $2,000 if they are drawing a pension for previous service as a county-wide elected official.
Board member Mick Madison said at the committee meeting that he "really likes this idea."
"I really think we need to do something," he said. "There are a lot of people who are double, some triple dipping. Anything we can do for taxpayers, especially now... we got limited income because of Covid."
Board member Don Moore added, "When taxpayers hear stuff like this, it really burns them."