SE Illinois News

For Donald Bryant, a recent article in the SE Illinois News was a wake-up call.

The article revealed the salaries of Harrisburg’s city employees. After reading it, Bryant, who has lived in Harrisburg for most of his life, called the mayor's office but was able only to speak to his secretary.

“I asked her who Bobby Brown was,” Bryant said to SE Illinois News. “[She said Brown] was the superintendent over at the water department. He’s making $90,000 a year. Isn’t that ridiculous? All I know is what I hear … but the talk is the city just laid off six of the nine deputy sheriffs. So, we’ve got three deputy sheriffs now So, my remark to her is why don’t we cut [Brown’s] salary in half, give him $45,000 and hire a new policeman?”

According to the 2015 Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) records, Brown was the highest-paid city employee in Harrisburg, making $87,693 a year. Bryant was told that Brown’s salary was negotiated through his union — an answer Brian found unsatisfactory.

“If I was mayor, there wouldn’t be union because I just don’t see [how we are] doing away with our police department and paying these people these kinds of money,” Bryant said.

Considering the state’s financial problems and the recent 32 percent income tax increase, Bryant argued that giving high salaries to city employees makes little sense and looks like a money grab.

“I think the politicians — I’m not saying they are all — but I think the politicians are strictly there for the money," he said. "They don’t care for us. They don’t care about the citizens. They are there for the money. That’s what I told the [secretary] this morning. The superintendent over at the water department … they are not concerned about us or they wouldn’t be getting those kinds of salaries. Most of the politicians — not all of them — they are attracted by the money and that’s it. They don’t care about me, and they don’t care about you.”

Born in Harrisburg, Bryant served in Vietnam before being discharged due to family hardship.  He returned to Harrisburg and has seen firsthand the changes the town has experienced.

“This little town, when I first moved back, it was a nice clean little town,” he said. “We had people moving down from Chicago for the scenery. But it’s turned into a – I hate to use this word – it’s turned into a dump. You’ve got empty houses sitting around. It’s all falling down.”

Harrisburg has seen better times, Bryant said.

“I’m 70 years old, and hopefully I can survive here in town until I die, and then I won’t have to worry about it,” he said.