Mayor To Donate Salary To Residents In Need

NEW LENOX, IL -- New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann has decided to donate his entire mayoral salary for the remainder of his term. The three-term far south suburban mayor has given three New Lenox community leaders the power to decide who gets the assistance on a monthly basis.

“My wife and I were talking the other day about how we always try to do things for people we know who are in need, but thought we could start doing more for the community and people we don’t know who are in need,” said Baldermann, who earns $18,000 for a mayoral job that is officially considered part-time in New Lenox. “We work hard, but do well and are fortunate enough to be in a position in which our kids are grown and we are able to help others.”

Baldermann’s donation, which will come to about a $32,000 total before his term expires in April of 2019, will not go to any specific organization or charity. It will go to individuals or families in New Lenox who are “in real need.” The anonymous recipients will be chosen by the three-member committee, which will also remain anonymous.

“Donating to an organization is great, but they also have a lot of overhead expenses, so not every dollar would go to people in need,” he said. “Here, people will get every penny of it.”

It won’t be cash donations, however. Baldermann says that applicants will need to explain what they need the money for and how much. The amount will vary from month-to-month based on the needs of the chosen recipients.

“If someone needs help paying their water bill, the committee might just decide to pay their water bill. Or if they need groceries, they will go out and get groceries.”

Applications can be filled out by New Lenox residents on the village website under the Quick Links tab on the left side of the site. The forms can also be picked up at Village Hall.

The paper applications will be dropped off in a sealed envelope in the water bill payment box. They won’t be seen by anyone other than the three committee members who will choose the recipients.

“I won’t even know where the money is going,” Baldermann said. “Sometimes people may be too proud to ask for help so we are making this completely anonymous.”

Recipients must be from New Lenox unless specifically approved by the committee. There is a $200 per person max per month, but Baldermann says that could be increased based on the specific need of the individual or family.

Baldermann isn’t the first elected official to forego payment for representing the people, but a program like this is unique.

“I’ve seen people forego a salary, but that really isn’t benefiting anyone,” he said. “I wanted to go anonymously and do it a little bit at a time so we can help the local people who could use an extra hand up.”

The applications are already posted on the village website and the committee plans to meet at the end of August to determine the first recipients in September, Baldermann said. The same process will take place monthly until the mayor’s term ends in 2019.

Anyone with questions should contact Sonia Little at 815-462-6425. Baldermann said he encourages people in need to apply.

“It’s all confidential,” he said.

Photo via Patch archive