Wednesday, June 2, 2010

McHenry County Government Salaries Hit By Economic Change

     McHenry County board members discussed the compensation for elected officials who will be starting new terms December 1. These include Treasurer, County Clerk and Sheriff as well as 12 of the 24 county board members. Salaries for these officials must be set 180 days prior to taking office. The three county offices mentioned as well as 12 of the 24 county board members are to be filled through the election process taking place November 2.
     The salaries were discussed in committees as well as at the County Board. The proposal for this year is to rescind prior resolutions adopted in 2009 which set the salaries for the board members and constitutional officers being elected in November 2010. These salaries according to resolutions adopted Tuesday by the County Board will freeze the salaries of those officials.
     This means the salaries for the year December 1, 2010 to November 30, 2011 will be frozen at $103,000 for the Clerk and Treasurer and $145,000 for the Sheriff. The salary for county board members being elected will be set at $19,766 for board members and $79,063 for the Chairman. All county board salaries are to be increased by the cost of living for the following fiscal year.
     There was discussion regarding setting salaries for the officials at one time, especially the county board members, so there would not be a "two tier" situation. Some of the county board members also noted that compensation should be set for the elected officials based upon the job requirements and if the salary was not acceptable then the alternative is not to seek election.

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