Elmhurst Aldermen Say Their Pay Low

ELMHURST, IL – A pair of Elmhurst City Council members say the low pay for aldermen may create a barrier for some to serve.

They are asking for a council committee to review the issue.

Aldermen get $2,400 a year, which has remained the same for 23 years. In that time, the salary has lost about 80 percent of its value, according to the federal inflation calculator.

"(T)he low compensation can favor more affluent community members, keeping some from being able to run and serve," aldermen Tina Park and Brian Cahill said in an Oct. 10 memo.

Any pay increase could only take effect with new terms. Park has announced she isn't running again.

Aldermen get far less than their counterparts in township governments.

A week before the memo, Patch reported that York Township trustees make $7,500 a year, while those in Addison Township pulled in $6,000.

Elmhurst's elected city officials attend about 50 meetings a year. That works out to about $50 a meeting for an alderman, not including the time they spend studying issues and speaking with constituents.

The York and Addison township boards each met 13 times last year.

Under Illinois law, school and park board members aren't paid.