$1.2 Million in Wages for Cartographers and Photogrammetrists

The average annual wages for cartographers and photogrammetrists on the IDOT payroll was almost 16% higher than the BLS average for all workers in Illinois with those job titles.

by Amanda Griffin-Johnson

Using our transparency website, IllinoisOpenGov.org, I found that in 2008, the Illinois Department of Transportation had seven cartographers and sixteen photogrammetrists on its payroll. The average annual wages, not including benefits, for these workers equaled $54,971. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that “Cartographers and Photogrammetrists” in Illinois received average annual wages of $47,450 in 2008 – almost 14% less than IDOT cartographers and photogrammetrists.

To find this information on the IllinoisOpenGov site, go to “Payroll” and search for “cartographer” and “photogrammetrist” in the “Position” field. To download the data, click on the Excel or CSV icon below the search results.

Transparency Project Nets $693M in Additional Gov

6 government agencies made huge strides in transparency and together contributed to an additional $693 million in government spending being made available online for area taxpayers to examine.

By Brian Costin

Recently, the Illinois Policy Institute released the findings of the Schaumburg Township Area’s Transparency Project, which is located in Northwestern Cook County.

The average transparency score of the 17 agencies audited increased a 23.7 to a 39.2, out of a possible 100, over the course of the 6-week project. School District 54, which serves K-8 students in Schaumburg Township, achieved the highest score by raising their 37.75 original score up to 90 points in the final audit.

While 11 out of the 17 agencies audited did little or nothing to improve transparency, 6 government agencies made huge strides in transparency and together contributed to an additional $693 million in government spending being made available online for area taxpayers to examine. 

Here’s a breakdown of each entity that improved transparency and their amount of their annual spending that is now online with links to the resources.

$220M Township High School District 211
$200M Village of Schaumburg
$156M Schaumburg Township School District 54
$94M   Village of Hoffman Estates
$15M   Schaumburg Township Library
$8M     Rolling Meadows Park District

The Illinois Policy Institute is conducting other Local Transparency Projects all across the state of Illinois, including audits in the Palatine and Barrington Township areas.

Congratulations to the administrators and elected officials in each of these agencies that helped make this happen. Also, thanks to our Volunteers who contributed to this project.