More than one-third of employees at the Park District of Highland Park make more than $100,000 a year, district records show.
The district receives more than 57 percent of its funding from local tax dollars with the park district accounting for 6.5 percent of a typical Highland Park property tax bill in 2016, the Illinois Policy Institute reported in a recent article.
“While not taking up a large portion of residents’ bills, the generous compensation of so many park district employees might not be an encouraging sign for taxpayers seeking relief,” Brendan Bakala writes in the article.
The highest paid park district employee is Executive Director Liza McElroy. McElroy takes more than $227,500 in total compensation and has an annual base salary of more than $198,100, a car allowance worth $7,200, 12 sick days and 25 vacation days.
Also earning a similar vehicle allowance is Deputy Director of Operations Kathleen Donahue. She receives total compensation of just under $174,400, a base salary of nearly $149,500 and a $5,100 car allowance.
Other employees making large salaries are Head Tennis Pro Chris Visconti, making a base salary of just over $99,000 and $126,000 in total compensation; and Assistant Head Tennis Pro Jennifer LaGuidice, making a base salary of $78,540 and more than $114,000 in total compensation.
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