The offices of McHenry County coroner, circuit clerk and recorder will see their salaries climb from $67,933 to $70,035 in December–and a total of 13 percent over the next four years–thanks to the McHenry County Board’s 15-7 vote to approve the pay raises Tuesday night.
The salary for the county auditor, who this year is paid $49,306, will soar to $70,035 in 2001, putting it in line with the salaries of the other officeholders. In 2004, all four officeholders will earn $76,530.
The board’s pay-raise supporters argued that everyone deserves annual raises. Opponents argued that the officeholders already are paid more than most McHenry County taxpayers earn.
“When people run for office, they know what the job pays,” said County Board member Dick Hoover, who favored raising the salaries to $70,035 and leaving them unchanged over the next four years.
County Board member Ann Kate argued that the county plans to give its employees pay raises, “so I don’t know why we would not do the same for elected officials.”
An elected official’s salary cannot be changed during the current term of office, so the County Board had to set salaries for the offices before the new terms begin Dec. 1.
Salaries of other countywide officeholders, including county clerk, regional schools superintendent, sheriff and treasurer, were set two years ago.
The state’s attorney’s pay is set by the state.