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County Board OKs $90M budget 2016 spending plan eventually passed on 24-0 vote, after removal of proposed raise By RHONDA GILLESPIE rgillespie@shawmedia.com DeKALB – There were some last-minute twists Wednesday before the DeKalb County Board eventually passed a $90 million budget for 2016. County Board members passed the spending plan 24-0, but it was after they removed the $9,000 raise for the county building inspector. The inspector was to get a
$3.50-an-hour bump in pay to $28.38, according to what was in the original budget proposal. Money for the raise was to come from an increase in planning and zoning-related fees, officials said. But board member John Frieders, R-12th District, said he was acting on the opinion of County Administrator Gary Hanson when Frieders made the motion to deny the raise.
Lenders take borrowers to court over student loans
Frieders said Hanson “cautions that this [raise] sets a bad precedent, and that there are a lot of people in this county who deserve raises. And we just can’t give them one.” Hanson was at the meeting and spoke himself. He added that money from fees should be put into the county’s general fund and should not be earmarked for a specific purpose, namely, in this case, a salary increase.
“The real injustice, to me, is the employees who have been here for years, and have served us well. And have accepted the [low] wage increase and accepted the extra work as we tried to balance the budget. We’re saying, ‘Well thank you, but we’d like this new person to get extra money.’ I just don’t think that’s fair,” he said. The new building inspector’s boss, Paul Miller, fought
for the raise. He initially asked for $19,000 additional for the worker. But after several appeals to different County Board committees, the $9,000 or $3.50-an-hour compromise was reached. The county anticipated $12,000 in revenue from increased fees to pay for the raise. “It does not set a precedent,” Miller, who is the planning, zoning and building di-
HUSKIES HOLD ON NIU can secure MAC West title with another win Tuesday By EDDIE CARIFIO ecarifio@shawmedia.com
By DAVE COLLINS
See LOANS, page A7
See BUDGET, page A7
NORTHERN ILLINOIS 27, WESTERN MICHIGAN 19
DeKALB – From three straight losses to a likely sixth straight trip to Detroit. The Northern Illinois football team beat Western Michigan, 27-19, on Wednesday night, leaving the Huskies one win away from a sixth straight Mid-American Conference West Division title. All the Huskies (8-3 overall, 6-1 MAC) have to do is beat Ohio (6-4, 3-3) on Tuesday at Huskie Stadium to secure the title. The win was the seventh straight against the Broncos (6-5, 5-2) and third straight against PJ Fleck, a former Huskies player who graduated from Kaneland Jordan Huff had eight carries for 159 yards and a touchdown for the Huskies, who came up with a big goa-lline stand in the final minutes to seal the win.
The Associated Press HARTFORD, Conn. – Fall behind on your student loans these days and you could end up getting more than hectoring phone calls and threatening letters. Some lenders are taking more people to court, attorneys said. The number of lawsuits filed over delinquent student loans that were made by private lenders has increased significantly in the past two years, lawyers told The Associated Press, even though borrowers are missing payments much less often than they did during the height of the recession. While no one tracks exactly how many such lawsuits are brought, an AP review of court websites in several states found several thousand, an overwhelming number of them filed since 2013. “I’m seeing it steadily getting worse,” said Joshua R.I. Cohen, a lawyer representing people in student loan cases in Connecticut and Vermont. “They’re going to court more often. They’re pushing for harder settlement terms.” Loan industry officials did not return calls or would not comment on the apparent uptick in lawsuits. Among those who have been sued are Cohen’s clients Brett and Jennifer Rinehart, of Manchester, Connecticut. EduCap Inc., a major lender and loan administrator, took them to court in August on behalf of HSBC Bank, saying they owe nearly $59,000 on a student loan taken out by Jennifer, a teacher who earned a master’s in education. The two sides have yet to come to terms on a repayment plan. “I was angry,” said Brett Rinehart, who with his wife is raising two children. “We had been willing to work with them the whole time. They wanted to play hardball. It’s been very stressful. It’s a big question mark looming over our heads.” EduCap officials didn’t return messages seeking comment. A lawyer representing EduCap in the case against the Rineharts declined to comment. The lawsuits come as the student loan industry finds itself under government scrutiny over complaints about such things as paperwork errors and deceptive collection tactics. One explanation for the apparent rise in lawsuits is that many loan holders now are able to sue because bankruptcy cases filed by borrowers around the recession have been resolved, said N. James Turner, a lawyer in Orlando, Florida. Student loan debt cannot be collected when someone is in bankruptcy. Also, the sheer amount of money at stake – billions of dollars in delinquent loans – might be contributing to the more aggressive tack, lawyers said. Student loans from private lenders total an estimated $91 billion, or about 7 percent, of the $1.2 trillion student loan market, with federal
rector, told board members, in an attempt to have the amendment defeated. Hanson doesn’t get to vote on county measures, but his sentiment may have struck a chord with the County Board members. While several members wanted to let the raise stand in the budget, the amendment to strike it passed overwhelmingly.
Northern Illinois running back Marcus Jones carries for a first down in the first half against WestNorthern Illinois cornerback Albert Smalls breaks up a pass in the end zone intended for Western Michi- ern Michigan on Wednesday during a Mid-Amerigan’s wide receiver Corey Davis late in the fourth quarter Wednesday. can Conference West Division game in DeKalb. Photos by H. Rick Bamman – hbamman@shawmedia.com
Northern Illinois quarterback Ryan Graham runs out of the pocket as Western Michigan’s Keion Adams (center) and David Curle give chase in the first half Wednesday.
Northern Illinois wide receiver Aregeros Turner celebrates his first half touchdown against Western Michigan on Wednesday.
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NIU students highlighted in fall dance concert / C1
DeKalb’s Salvation Army giving turkeys for Thanksgiving / A3
Lucinda Avenue extension opens in DeKalb / A3
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