By: Diane Benjamin
The Normal Town Council just gave her a 4% raise. Inflation must be killing her.
Put “City Manager Salary in Illinois” into your search bar. I got this: https://www.salary.com/research/salary/recruiting/city-manager-salary/il
Only 5% of Americans earn more than $200,000. https://gcelt.org/what-percentage-of-americans-make-over-200k-a-comprehensive-look-at-income-distribution-in-the-us/#google_vignette
That article also states: “the sectors most commonly associated with big bucks are finance, law, and medicine”.
Note government isn’t listed.
The BIGGER city of Bloomington pays Jeff Jurgens $210,000. https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/30312/638584492540430000
Last year Reece’s total compensation was $291,902 which includes benefits. Her raise will take her over $300,000. https://normalil.gov/DocumentCenter/View/14857/Total-Compensation-Report—Town-of-Normal
Jeff Jurgen’s total compensation was $262,703, see above link.
Both now have TWO assistant City Managers.
Only in Illinois where citizens are ruled, not governed.
So there are six total in city management? Great. I’ve been puzzled for years why the two towns don’t merge. Everything is in duplicate…. fire, police, councils, etc….seems stupidly wasteful to me. But, as I understand the history, Normal always resisted with an over sized self opinion. Somethings never change.
2 assistants 1 unelected city employee that answers to only the mayor, and still my sidewalk doesn’t get repaired ? does all my money go to Crissy’s millionaire friends new housing development ?
A City manager works for the Council or Board that appointed them. The Council can vote to terminate their contract with a majority of members voting to terminate their contract. But most contracts have a severance package for termination.
Used to be, if you went into public service, you made less money than you would in the private sector, but you made up for that with rich benefits, mostly free or at little expense.
Now, you get both. Because it’s who cares? It’s taxpayer money which is unlimited.
What is confusing is the fact that most residents of normal make way less than $220,000.00 a year and certainly don’t get a lifetime guaranteed retirement income of over $120,00.00 they either don’t vote or vote for those that give away their tax dollars.
Quite obvious politicians and those that work for the government control the masses how sad
Way past due to throw the tea into the water!!!!
This is a higher salary than the Governor of Illinois.
Imagine a manager responsible for a Village/Town earning more than the person responsible for the entire state !
Pam Reece is not to blame. The Town council is.
Shame on the Normal town council for thinking this is ok.
Bloomington is equally guilty of over paying its mgr and assistants as well.
These bureaucrats are simply NOT WORTH the salary they are given.
People should push back and stop voting for alderman that enable this grift.
Yeah blame the council and I guess if you are in Reece’s shoes you would accept the money but myself I would be embarrassed to accept such a ridiculous salary especially with how people are struggling today
Remember she just promoted another assistant manager for a ridiculous salary Pam Reese is as bad as those on the council
Social security next year is 2.5% more. She gets 4%.
Pamela Reese is no different than most other bureaucrats. She knows she’s paid way more than she deserves, if she’s an honest woman, but most likely she probably thinks she’s actually worth that much!! Oh my!!!!
What a puffed up opinion…..fits perfectly with the town of Normal.
And most of us at ISU get nothing. I have worked for the University for almost 9 years. There are more years that we have not gotten raises than years that we have.
We see this everywhere taxes pay for more employees and higher salaries. In education and government, administration numbers skyrocket, salaries become obscene, while service dismal.
Trump, Ramaswamy and Musk get it. Too bad it hasn’t gotten to the democrats and the local levels yet. Seems like voters are brain dead.
Makes you wonder what kind of secrets Sonja Reece has on the Council….wonder who else is getting paid and who are the bobbleheads.
In addition to two assistants and Pam’s overinflated salary, there’s Pam’s predecessor, Mark Petersen whose knocking down an overinflated public pension. Last time I checked it was over $120,000 per year and he retired before he was 60. Even got a plaza named after him in Uptown.
So, it’s not as easy as getting rid of Pam. That’s the point. Normal residents are paying her salary for life.