Citing safety risks for election officials, McHenry County clerk seeking 35% pay hike

McHenry County is considering whether to increase elected officials’ salaries, even as the county’s expenses are expected to outpace revenue next year.

McHenry County Clerk Joe Tirio went in front of a county board committee last week to make the case for a raise in salary for his position and others.

Among the offices being reviewed for salary increases are treasurer, sheriff and clerk, who also handles the responsibilities of the recorder. All three seats are up for election next year, and the incumbents — Tirio, Sheriff Robb Tadelman and Treasurer Donna Kurtz, all Republicans — are seeking reelection.

Salary changes would go into effect after the next election and, historically, the county has approved them before the primary election for those offices, Tirio said. The 2026 primary is March 17.

The county clerk, treasurer, auditor, circuit court clerk and coroner have salaries of $114,000, county officials confirmed. Tirio proposed a new clerk’s salary of $154,000, about a 35% raise.

The elected positions will see automatic raises next year of 3% or the consumer price index, whichever is less, County Administrator Peter Austin said. None of the additional salary increase requests had been worked into next year’s budget, he said.

County board member and committee Chair Joe Gottemoller said the system of automatic yearly raises, tied to inflation, was “an attempt to try to make adjustments along the way.” Before that, salaries were fixed and could only be adjusted every four years.

Regional Superintendent of Education Diana Hartmann also is up for reelection next year. Her salary, listed in public records as $133,000, is set by the state, county officials said.

Tirio said other department heads in McHenry County government have seen their compensation grow 26% since 2018, but the clerk’s pay has gone up 8.1%.

He also cited the harassment and safety issues that clerks and election officials have faced in recent years as a reason for a pay bump. He noted that clerks elsewhere in Illinois have quit or decided not to run again because of the election environment.

The salary discussion comes as the county is facing the prospect of making cuts. Expenses are expected to outpace revenue next year, even if the county increases its levy by the maximum allowed.

Board member Pam Althoff said she doesn’t have an issue with Tirio’s request.

However, she added, “I have a real hard time from a perception perspective of looking at increasing elected salaries right now.”

Tirio said he understands where Althoff was coming from, but said if you want “competent people to bring their best game,” you have to pay them “appropriately.”

Sandra Salgado, the sheriff’s office business manager, told the county board committee the sheriff also would be asking for a salary adjustment.

The county board also is set to vote on a pay raise for the public defender July 15. The public defender’s salary has to be at 90% of that of the state’s attorney’s, which os about $219,325 as of July 1, according to county documents.