Ill. to Pay Only 40% of its Share of Salaries for State's Attorneys, Public Defenders
As Illinois struggles to pay its bills, counties there will only receive 40 percent of state monies allotted for state’s attorneys, public defenders, and assessors. The state funds come from fines and fees collected from various county offices.
The Illinois Department of Revenue notified counties in July that state payments would be significantly smaller. In some counties, it’s estimated that there will be six-figure shortfalls.
“They’re not letting the money come back to the people assessing them,” Terry Charlton, Logan County Board chairman, told the Bloomington, Ill., Pantagraph.
“This is horrible leadership from the state,” Charlton said.
Generally, the state pays 87.5 percent of a state’s attorney’s salary, 66.5 percent of a public defender’s salary and 50 percent of an assessment supervisor’s salary.
Additionally, earlier this month Illinois Gov. Patrick Quinn ordered nonunion state employees to take 24 furlough days. The plan is aimed at closing Illinois’ $750 million budget gap, Quinn spokeswoman Kelly Kraft told the Capital Fax Blog.
Related coverage:
Daily Herald: “State cutting contributions on state’s attorney, public defender pay”
