Some Kane Co. officials could see a big bump in pay?

Some elected county officials could get $20,000 raises next year under a plan approved by a county committee Friday.

The six full-time county officials, excluding sheriff and board chairman, would each get a salary of $95,000 next year under the plan approved by the county's human services committee.

The raises would begin in December of this year, after elections.

"They have children to put through college, they have to put meals on the table just like everyone else," said Elburn Republican Jan Carlson. "They should be paid fairly."

Two years ago, the county convened an ad-hoc committee of businesspeople to determine what the officials would be paid in the private sector and what were appropriate salaries, Carlson said.

Three of the positions -- county clerk, treasurer and sheriff -- were raised then.

The remaining positions would be raised to the same level as those this year, he said. The board chairman and sheriff would make more.

The board chairman does the work of a county administrator as well, saving the county money from not having two administrators, Carlson said.

As for the sheriff's higher salary, "he has the largest department, greatest amount of responsibility, and he can get shot," Carlson said.

Bonnie Lee Kunkel, an Aurora Democrat, said she didn't think the raises should be so hefty and wanted the board chairman's pay to be equal to other officials'.

"We're making very significant increases to these salaries and I'm not comfortable with that," she said. "I don't think any taxpayers are getting that kind of increase."

John Fahy, a West Dundee Republican, noted that the salary increases for the most part fall into line with pay for officials in other collar counties.

This year, the Kane County auditor position paid $76,873. In DuPage County, that person is paid $124,242; in McHenry, it's $89,350; and in Will, it's $91,116.

Deborah Allan, an Elgin Republican, wondered if with half the increases already in place, the board was "kind of stuck" with approving the rest of the increases.

Under the plan approved by the committee on Friday, most salaries would rise to $100,000 in December 2009, then be frozen for the next two years.

The plan now goes to the county's executive committee before going to the county board for approval.

County raises

Current Dec. '08

Clerk $90,000 $95,000

Treasurer $90,000 $95,000

Sheriff $108,250 $116,500

Auditor $76,873 $95,000

Coroner $76,873 $95,000

Recorder $76,873 $95,000

Circ. clerk $79,000 $95,000

Brd. chair $85,000 $105,000

Source: Kane County human services committee