In counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, the board of appeals (until the first Monday in December 1998 and the board of review beginning on the first Monday in December 1998 and thereafter) shall appoint a Chief Clerk, a Secretary, and a deputy in charge of complaints. The Board may also employ deputies and other staff as may be necessary to assist the Board in the proper discharge of its duties. The Chief Clerk, the Secretary and the deputies shall have authority to administer oaths and examine under oath those persons who appear for a hearing. The Board may assign any matter to a deputy for preliminary hearing. With respect to applications for exemption reviewed under Section 16-130, the Secretary shall prepare and forward to the Department a full and complete statement of all the facts together with documents in each case and shall also forward a statement of the facts to the county assessor. Except as provided in Section 9-85, in all other instances the board shall certify its action and orders to the county assessor and the county assessor shall carry out the orders under the direction of the board. Employees of the board of appeals (until the first Monday in December 1998 and the board of review beginning on the first Monday in December 1998 and thereafter) shall receive compensation fixed by the county board upon the recommendation of the board, payable from the county treasury.
35 ILCS 200/5-15