Sugar Daddy: Berrios Gives Daughter $10K Pay Raise

By Chuck Sudo in News on May 23, 2011 1:30PM

Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios has already showed by his actions that he'll keep his family close to him, having brought his son and sister with him to the Assessor's office that already employed his daughter, even as those hirings and the firings of others may be in violation of both the Shakman decrees and county rule. Today, the Sun-Times reports that Berrios gave daughter Vanessa a promotion and a pay raise as he makes cuts elsewhere in the office.

Don't expect Berrios to sound contrite about this, either. Berrios said that his daughter is "entitled" to that salary due to the added responsibilities she's now shouldering. Berrios even offered something of a kinfolk discount discount as a defense. Berrios told the Sun-Times that his daughter's $68,288.48 is actually saving the county money because the last person to handle her job responsibilities was making six figures.

That still may not soothe the Assessor's office employees not related to Berrios who are required to take 10 unpaid furlough days this year. As for putting his immediate kin on his payroll, Berrios said, “They’re very trustful. They know their jobs. And I’m happy they’re there. At the end of the day, the taxpayers will benefit from all of this because the assessment will be fair.”