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The Cook County Forest Preserve District has hired a suburban Democratic leader as a $68,000-a-year administrative assistant, a move that raised questions Wednesday among commissioners who are being asked to vote for a 13.5 percent property tax increase.

Sam Simone, Palos Township Democratic committeeman, was hired Oct. 1, filling a years-old vacancy as administrative assistant to the district's general superintendent.

Simone has been assigned to oversee the refurbishment of the district's 6,000 picnic tables. After that, he will administer the watchman program, in which workers pay low rents to live in district houses in exchange for performing basic tasks.

The same 17 members of the Cook County Board, headed by President John Stroger, also govern the Forest Preserve District, a separate governmental body.

"At the same time President Stroger is seeking a 13 percent property tax increase, he's bringing on the payroll a politician for $70,000 a year to fix picnic tables," said Commissioner Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago). "That speaks to the priorities of the district."

Steven Bylina, the Forest Preserve District's general superintendent, defended the hire.

"Mr. Simone's position is one that that I believe is necessary for the preserves," Bylina said.

Past critics of the district have credited Bylina with starting to turn around the operation since Stroger tapped him in the summer of 2003 to replace Joseph Nevius, who had retired earlier that year.

The district has won plaudits for replacing toilets, posting new trail signs and launching an aggressive effort to remove graffiti. Bylina said refurbishing the picnic tables is an extension of efforts to make physical improvements.

Commissioners raised questions about the proposed 2005 budget during a daylong hearing Wednesday. The much smaller forest preserve budget has greater support among commissioners than the $3 billion county spending plan, which includes new hotel and restaurant taxes.

Stroger proposed a 13.5 percent hike in the district's property tax levy in large part to pay off $100 million in bonds for capital improvements. Commissioners rallied around the effort to win approval in Springfield for the authority to issue the bonds, which many see as a reasonable rationale for the levy increase.

The Forest Preserve District property tax levy amounts to about 1 percent of a typical bill.

Still, a vocal contingent of commissioners argued Wednesday that the district's payroll remains top heavy with management at the expense of rank-and-file workers.

"I don't think, and I'm being candid here, that you need three layers of insulation. I know you don't," Commissioner Mike Quigley (D-Chicago) said in reference to the large maintenance division's hierarchy. "Wouldn't we be better off getting more guys to take trees and picnic tables out of rivers?"