McHenry County rejects salary freeze-raise plan

The McHenry County Board on Tuesday voted down a plan to lift an 18-month salary freeze and provide 2-percent raises for 940 nonunion county employees.

Board members voted 12-8 against the proposal.

Members of the county's finance and audit committee a little more than a week ago voted 5-2 to approve the plan, which would have cost $228,000 in the second half of the fiscal year.

Assistant County Administrator for Finance Ralph Sarbaugh said then that raises were 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 brought before the full county board Tuesday, there was less enthusiasm for the plan.

Board member John Hammerand wasn't in favor of it at the committee level, and he remained that way Tuesday.

He said he is concerned that with civil unions now available in Illinois the county could see an influx of new dependents for health insurance.

Board member Paula Yensen initially voted in favor of the proposal at the committee level but said she since has heard from people who were opposed to it — people who've lost jobs, health care and homes.

“I have given myself a lot of reflection on a vote representing the constituents in my area of District 5,” she said.

Board member Nick Provenzano said running the county is not the same as running Macy's or Boeing. “We are not the private sector dealing with the public's money,” he said.

Taxpayers, he said, “don't understand how we could be granting raises at this time.”

But Barbara Wheeler pointed out again that the county currently is running a healthy surplus; it has a 7-month cushion with a goal of 5 months.