June 2010 Archives

The Department of Agriculture for the State of Illinois paid 11 meat and poultry inspector supervisors $616,597.87 in combined total wages in the fiscal year 2008. The average meat and poultry inspector supervisor was paid an annual salary of $56,054.35 with the highest salary being $61,633. The Illinois Department of Central Management Services website says the role of a meat & poultry inspector supervisor is to "supervise subordinate Meat and Poultry Inspectors and Trainees engaged in the enforcement of laws, rules and regulations relating to meat and poultry inspections."

The State of Illinois paid 8 silk screen operators $483,312 in fiscal year 2008 in combined wages. The highest paid silk screen operator received $69,222. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the average salary for silk screen operators in Illinois is $34,450, 51% lower than the State's operators. According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, "silk screen" is "a stencil process in which coloring matter is forced onto the material to be printed through the meshes of a silk or organdy screen".

To find more this information on our IllinoisOpenGov.org website, go to "Payroll" and type "Silk Screen" into the "Search" field.

According to our transparency website, IllinoisOpenGov.org, the State of Illinois paid 41 public administration interns $736,463.01 in fiscal year 2008 in combined total wages, with the highest paid intern being paid $52,914. The average public administration intern was given an annual salary of $17,962.51. According to the Illinois Central Management Services website, public administration interns "function in an administrative capacity reporting to a major program official in an agency sponsored trainee program."

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) gave a $28,442 grant (#10-442007) in fiscal year 2010 to Monmouth College to "expand the recycling program to include all academic buildings, offices, residence halls and high traffic areas at Monmouth College." According to the DCEO's grant tracker, the grant is part of the Illinois Recycling Grants Program, set up to help "local governments, not-for-profit organizations, and private entities initiate or expand recycling collection and/or processing efforts in Illinois."

According to our transparency website, IllinoisOpenGov.org, the State of Illinois paid 28 Liquor Control Special Agents $1,418,421 in fiscal year 2008. The chairman of the committee was paid a salary of $56,685.71. According to the Illinois Department of Central Management Services website, Liquor Control Special Agents are meant to "conduct field investigations concerned with the enforcement of the provisions of the Liquor Control Act."

To find this information on our IllinoisOpenGov.org website, go to "Payroll" and type "Liquor Control Special Agent" into the "Search" field.

According to our transparency website, IllinoisOpenGov.org, the State of Illinois paid 30 fingerprint technicians $1,457,511.64 in fiscal year 2008 in combined total wages. The highest paid fingerprint technician was paid $52,494. According to the State of Illinois's Central Management Services website, fingerprint technicians are meant to "perform functions related to the automated and manual processing of fingerprint submissions through the Illinois State Police."

In 2008, the Illinois Department of Corrections employed 30 vocational instructors who made $1,837,058.27 in combined total wages.  The highest paid instructor made $86,477.96 and the average wage for the instructors was $61,000.  These individuals provide "occupational instruction in a specific vocation in a correctional facility."  On the other hand, the Illinois Department of Human Services employed 16 vocational instructors who on average made $46,000 with the highest paid instructor making $60,000.

You can find this information by clicking on "Payroll" and searching for "Corrections Vocational Instructo" in the position section.

In 2008, the State of Illinois paid 16 ferry operators $1,254,700 in combined total wages.  The highest paid ferry operator made $87,141.94, and the average for all operators was $78,000.  Ferry Operators are responsible for maintaining and operating power ferry boats and the position requires eight years of elementary education.  This one million in wages is in addition to the $900,000 the state paid to "deck hands" working on the ferries.

The Illinois Department of Transportation operates two free ferries across the Illinois State River.  These ferries operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week running separately from Grafton and Kampsville, Illinois across the river.

You can find this information by clicking on "Payroll" and searching for "Ferry Operators" in the "Position" section.

Our transparency website, IllinoisOpenGov.org, shows the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) gave a $50,000 grant (#08-333000) in fiscal year 2009 to the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition to "cover costs associated with interpreting and promotion of the reenactment of the 150th anniversary of the Lincoln Douglas debates." An additional grant (#08-333001) of $250,000 was given to "cover administrative costs associated with coordinating the Lincoln Douglas debate sesquicentennial."

In 2008, the Illinois General Assembly employed 54 legislative secretaries who made a combined $1,676,322 in total wages.  The highest paid secretary made $46,589.92.  These legislative secretaries work in the Illinois House of Representatives supporting individual representatives as well as committees and the house leadership.

You can find this information by clicking on "Payroll' and searching for "Legislative Secretary"  in the "Position" section.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) gave a $100,000 grant in fiscal year 2010 to the Western Illinois Tourism Development Office in Macomb to help "with the costs associated with hosting the Canadian 4th of July Celebration." The DCEO's grant tracker says the grant's (#10-372010) purpose is "to assist with costs associated with attracting international tourists to Illinois attractions and events."

In 2008, the State of Illinois employed 198 environmental protection engineers who made $13,365,880 in combined total wages.  The average wage for these employees was $67,504.  Sixteen of these employees made over $80,000 and the highest paid employee made $97,000.  These engineers were employed by the Departments of Agriculture, Natural Resources, Public Health, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

You can find this information by clicking on "Payroll" and searching for "Environmental Protection Engineers" and "Envir Prot Eng IV."

In 2008, the state of Illinois employed 72 driver facility managers who made $3,365,732 in combined total wages.  Driver facility managers are employees of the Illinois Secretary of State and responsible for the oversight of facility representatives in small and medium-sized downstate driver facility centers.  The highest paid manager made $64,125 in 2008, and the average pay for all the managers was $46,000.

You can find this information by clicking on "Payroll" and searching for "Drivers Facility Managers" in the "Position" section.

Our transparency website, IllinoisOpenGov.org, shows the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) gave a $10,000 grant in fiscal year 2009 to Ryburn Enterprises in Normal to "assist in the restoration and preservation of a 1930's gas station, garage, and restaurant." The DCEO's grant tracker explains the grant's (#09-335011) purpose is to promote tourism in the area, as the old and outdated buildings lie on the historic Route 66 highway.

In 2008, the State of Illinois paid 15 Power Shovel Operators $875,765.00 in combined total wages.  The Operators were employed by the Department of Transportation and the Department of Natural Resources.  The highest paid operator made over $84,000 in 2008, and the average worker made $58,000.  These individuals are responsible for operating "large capacity power shovels or dredges in excavating or dredging operations."

You can find this information by clicking on "Payroll" and searching for "Power Shovel Operators" in the "Agency" section.

In 2008, the state of Illinois employed 182 secretaries who made $6,176,435 in combined total wages.  The highest paid secretary was the Secretary of the Illinois Senate who made $123,661.  The second highest paid secretary was also an employee of the Illinois Senate and made $61,800 in 2008.

You can find this information by clicking on "Payroll" and searching for "Secretary" in the "Position" section.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) gave $1,272.88 to the Blackhawk Waterways Convention and Visitors Bureau in the town of Polo for advertising for "bed & breakfasts that specialize in chocolate-themed meals." The DCEO's grant tracker explains this grant's (#10-361014) purpose is "based off of the increased interest in culinary tourism, it is clear this promotion strategy will promote more tourism to the area."

The DCEO's grant tracker shows a total of $219,067.00 in the last two years going to the Blackhawk Waterways Convention and Visitors Bureau to promote tourism in the area in other ways.

Since this grant was awarded recently in fiscal year 2010, the information is not currently available on our IllinoisOpenGov.org website, but we plan on integrating it into our site when we have updated information. To find the grant on the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economy Opportunity site, search for "Blackhawk Waterways Convention and Visitors Bureau in the "Name of Organization" field.

In 2008, the Lieutenant Governor's Office employed 52 individuals who made $1,459,269 in combined total wages.  The highest paid employee was the Director of Operations who made $77,000 in 2008.  Total wages in the Lieutenant Governor's Office were greater than the wages for all employees of the "Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission," "Illinois Executive Ethics Commission," and the "Violence Prevention Authority" combined.

You can find this information by clicking on "Payroll" and searching for "Lieutenant Governor" in the "Agency" section.

According to our transparency website, IllinoisOpenGov.org, The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) allocated $150,000 in 2009 to the Rockome Gardens Learning Foundation in the town of Arcola to help fund tourist "buildings that will house dairy and ice-cream making components into an interactive Amish experience."

In 2008, the State of Illinois paid four board members of the Procurement Policy Board $182,814 in combined total wages.  The highest paid board member made almost $70,000.  The Procurement Policy Board is responsible for reviewing the "procurement, management, control, and disposal of supplies."

You can find this information by clicking on "Payroll" and searching for "Procurement Policy Board"  in the "Agency" section.

Using our transparency website, IllinoisOpenGov.org, I found that in fiscal year 2009, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) disbursed a $45,500 grant to the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association (IGGVA). The grant (grant #09-338000) was a tourism grant "to cover costs associated with hosting an educational conference for grape growers and vintners; and for promotional materials including but not limited to displays, promotional materials and printing."

According to the DCEO's Grant Tracker website, the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association has received two other tourism grants in recent years. The DCEO disbursed $64,500 to the association for grant #08-333020, which was a "special tourism grant." The IGGVA has most recently received $83,255.76 of a $145,500 grant. That grant (grant #10-338001) will allow the association to "maintain the illinoiswine.com website; continue social networking; reprint the IL Wine Guide; design and produce IL Wine pull up displays; implement statewide advertising in major media markets for festivals and events; and host an annual educational conference for the industry." The Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association received a total of $193,255.76 in recent years from these three grants. In addition to these grants, the IGGVA also mentions on their website that they were "granted $550,000 in 2005 by Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich to continue its effort to expand development and awareness of the state's wine industry."

To find the fiscal year 2009 grant on the Illinois OpenGov site, go to "Checks to Businesses & People" and search for "Illinois Grape Growers" in the "Vendor" field.

In 2008, the Illinois Secretary of State's Office employed 101 investigators who made $7,122,979.76 in combined total wages.  Three of these employees made over $100,000 and another nine made over $90,000.  The highest paid employee made $111,749.74, and the average wage for all these employees was $70,524.  The investigators appear to work in the State Police Department, an agency within the Secretary of State's Office, which is responsible for regulating businesses that sell and repair motor vehicles and vehicle parts.

You can find this information by clicking on "Payroll" and searching for "Investigator" in the "Position" section.