McHenry Co. board mulls pay freeze for officials

A one-year pay freeze for some McHenry County elected officials took a step forward Monday when it advanced out of a key committee.

The measure would hold compensation steady for the county clerk, treasurer, sheriff, board chairman and board members.

The county board's human resources committee unanimously backed the freeze.

"Many people have lost their jobs. - Many of them are filing bankruptcies," committee member Paula Yensen said. "I think we need to lead by example and do this."

County Administrator Peter Austin said he spoke with County Clerk Kathy Schultz, Sheriff Keith Nygren and Treasurer Bill LeFew before Monday's meeting.

"All three were concerned that this salary program had just been approved by the board last November and changing course in such a short period of time," Austin told the committee. "Not much has changed in the economy between November and May."

The November program established annual raises for the three officials tied to the rate of inflation. County board members and the board chairman have also had yearly inflationary raises.

If the board approves the freeze, salaries would stay the same for affected officials from Dec. 1, 2010 through Nov. 30, 2011.

After that, the officials would again receive raises commensurate with inflation, unless the board decides to increases salaries by a greater amount, Austin said.

The freeze would only apply to positions that are up for election in the fall because the board cannot adjust salaries for officials in the middle of their terms, Austin said.

The freeze recommendation heads to the board finance and audit committee on Tuesday and is scheduled to come before the full board June 1.

If approved, the following salaries would stay the same: $145,661 for sheriff, $103,802 for clerk and treasurer, $79,063 for board chairman, $24,766 for board vice chairman and $19,766 for board members.