McHenry Co. to consider raises for employees

A proposal to lift a six-month salary freeze for nonunion employees of McHenry County government awaits approval from the full county board after its finance committee recommended the measure.

Members of the county’s finance and audit committee this week voted 5-2 to give the county’s 940 nonunion employees a 2-percent raise. The raises are estimated to cost the county about $228,000 in the second half of the current fiscal year.

“We were hoping that money would loosen up, and it has,” said committee member Tina Hill of Woodstock. “The money is there in the taxes we had come in.”

Initially, the committee had considered limiting the raises to the county’s lowest paid employees. But county administrators said with 75 percent of employees making less than $50,000, the raise was extended to all nonunion employees.

Assistant County Administrator for Finance Ralph Sarbaugh said the raises are tenable because the county ended fiscal year 2010 with a $3 million surplus. That was due in part to the county issuing two tax sales in one fiscal year. In a tax sale, the county auctions off any unpaid taxes it is owed.

But some committee members opposed the raises, citing the county’s fragile fiscal state.

“We are on a knife’s edge as it is, financially,” said committee member John Hammerand of Wonder Lake. “I would rather have steady employment for our employees than raises, especially a 1-percent raise.”

Additionally, Hammerand said a number of constituents had urged him to vote against the raises.

“There are still a lot of people who are out of work and losing their homes,” Hammerand said. “I am concerned about our finances. It is more than time to step on the brakes. Forget about tapping them.”

The resolution will move to the county board, which could take action on the proposal at its June 7 board meeting.