Kane County board to vote on raises next week

Kane County Board members will vote next week on whether to give some elected officials raises ranging from $8,600 to $15,000.

And the salaries for county auditor, recorder, circuit clerk, coroner and board chairman would go up $5,000 each of the next three years under a plan the county's executive committee passed along to the full board.

The group passed along the recommendation from an ad-hoc committee of citizens, county board members and elected officials not up for raises without discussion on Wednesday.

Board member Jim Mitchell made that motion, saying he hadn't made up his mind about the proposal yet but there would be much discussion on it next week.

The county is required by state statute to approve salaries for elected officials within 180 days before an election.

The pay of the officials up for election ranges from $10,000 to $17,000 a year less than those officials in McHenry and Will counties, the collar counties closest to Kane in population.

The highest increase, to the board chairman position, is the exception because of the way different counties structure the position. In Kane, the chairman position is also the county administrator, which saves the county money, supporters have said.

Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay recused herself from the discussion on Wednesday and will not vote on it next week.

The chairman position, which now pays $85,000, would increase to $100,000 Dec. 1 and increase $5,000 each of the succeeding three years.

The circuit clerk's salary would increase from $79,000 to $90,000, while the county recorder, coroner and auditor would get a bump from $76,873 to $85,500. All those positions would also get the $5,000 increase each of the next three years.

Those hikes would mirror increases given to the county sheriff, treasurer and clerk in 2006.

Proposed county pay raises

The Kane County Board will vote Tuesday on pay raises for some positions.

Position Current Dec. '08

Recorder $76,873 $85,500

Coroner $76,873 $85,500

Auditor $76,873 $85,500

Cir. Clerk $79,000 $90,000

Chairman $85,000 $100,000

Source: Daily Herald news reports