Morton Mayor Jeff Kaufman's annual salary will double after the April 1 election.
His salary will rise from $10,000 to $20,000 annually starting May 1 because he's taken on a role as the village's economic development administrator since he was first elected mayor in 2017.
Future mayors will need to do the same thing, or they won't make $20,000.
If an economic development administrator is hired by the village, a village employee takes on economic development duties, or an outside vendor is hired to lead the village's economic development efforts, the mayoral salary will be $14,000, according to an ordinance amendment passed last month by the Village Board.
"Whoever is mayor in the future, this is a good deal for the village," Kaufman said.
So what are the mayors in Morton's neighboring communities paid?
Five years ago, the East Peoria City Council combined the positions of mayor and city administrator.
John Kahl, who was elected mayor in 2019, is the lone person who has served in the dual position. He earned $69,559 in 2020 and 2021, $74,377 in 2022 and 2023, and is making $101,784 this year.
East Peoria city officials say in addition to saving money, the city has run more efficiently since the two jobs were combined.
Pekin Mayor Mary Buress' salary is $20,000. Washington Mayor Gary Manier's salary is $14,448.
Kaufman has been involved in Morton village government since being elected a Village Board trustee in 1997.
He served five four-year terms as a trustee before becoming mayor in 2017. He was re-elected in 2021 and is running unopposed April 1.
During his time as a trustee, Kaufman was involved in the building of a new Blain's Farm & Fleet store and Morton's acquisition of the 6.6-acre Apostolic Christian Church site in downtown Morton that has been transformed into green space and parking.
Kaufman's most visible involvement in economic development as mayor is Precision Planting's construction of a 510,000-square-foot assembly and distribution center.
More recently, he's been involved in the tearing down of the old Ruby Tuesday restaurant and construction of a Dairy Queen there, and the upcoming demolition of the former Morton Terrace nursing home that had been closed since 2019.
Other projects with his input since he became mayor include the construction of a U-Haul facility in a former Kmart building; a new Springfield Clinic medical facility that will be built; the village's purchase of six homes that were torn down to clear the way for a much-needed 187-space parking lot at Morton Junior High School; and opening land for development near the Morton Public Library with the village's purchase of rundown homes across the street.
Kaufman is the president of Kaufman & Sons, a Morton business that does masonry, tuck-pointing and chimney work. The company was founded in 1957 by his father, Clifford.
The Village Board trustees not up for re-election next year will continue to receive a $1,200 annual salary.
For those who are elected or re-elected April 1, they'll receive $75 per meeting instead of the salary. The board meets twice a month. If a trustee attends all those meetings, his salary will be $1,800.
The change was part of the ordinance amendment that increased the mayor's salary.
"We're dealing with a lot of complicated issues. It's important for trustees to be at meetings," Kaufman said.
The Village Board has rarely had perfect attendance for a meeting over the past few years.
Four trustees candidates are running for three seats April 1. Trustees Craig Hilliard and Nate Parrott are running for re-election against John Cirilli and Andrew Schatz. Trustee Ken Newman isn't running for re-election after serving two terms.
Hilliard has served for one term and Parrott for served for two terms.
The terms of Trustees Rod Blunier, Steve Leitch and Brad Menold will expire in 2027.
