After tough tax levy vote, and with an election in 2026, McHenry County Board punts on its salaries
Months after approving salary raises for countywide elected officials, the McHenry County Board has decided not to take up compensation for its own members in the near future.
The salary discussion began during a budgeting season in which county officials had to close a budget gap that ran as high as $3.7 million at one point.
County board members in September approved raises for other county elected officials, although the new salaries for the sheriff, treasurer and clerk/recorder won’t take effect until late 2026, when the next terms for those offices begin.
Increases for the county board chair, coroner, auditor and circuit clerk will start in late 2028, when new terms for those offices begin.
The discussion about compensation for county board members was tabled until after the budget and levy passed.
But while the 2026 budget and property tax levy were approved last month, financial strains are on the horizon for next year. So a pair of committees decided in recent days to hold off on revisiting the issue of county board members’ salaries until July 2029.
The county’s administrative services committee last week floated the idea of taking up the salaries in 2031, ahead of the full board standing for reelection in 2032.
The entire county board will be up for reelection that year, after the 2030 census and subsequent redistricting.
Salary adjustments must be approved at least 180 days before an election, but county officials have said those adjustments historically get passed before the primary election.
During the administrative services committee meeting last week, county board member Pamela Althoff said that having a discussion about salaries close to the 2032 election could lead to a less “candid” conversation. Althoff suggested bringing the issue back in 2029 so there’s a “gap” in between, and the salaries are set “before it becomes a political football.”
At a county finance committee meeting the following day, where the topic was also on the agenda, committee Chair Michael Skala said he was “disappointed” that the other committee had tabled the salary discussion. He said he would attempt to bring the matter back next month.
The salary resolution that was included in meeting documents – but was tabled – would have kept board salaries level for two years. It didn’t specify a 2029 base salary, but in fiscal 2030, the county board would have gotten the previous fiscal year’s salary and an increase of the lesser of 3% or the consumer price index, a measure of inflation.
Currently, county board members are paid a base salary of $21,000. They are also eligible for benefits, including health and dental insurance. Most county board members take benefits. County board Chair Mike Buehler has a base salary of $86,300, but he does not take benefits.