Arlington Heights village manager gets 5% raise, $15K bonus

Arlington Heights Village Manager Randy Recklaus has received a 5% raise and $15,000 performance bonus following his most recent annual evaluation with the village board.

Recklaus, at the helm of day-to-day operations of town’s government since 2014, will be paid an annual base salary of $313,533 retroactive to Nov. 10. With the one-time bonus, he will make $328,533.

The compensation adjustments sailed through on the elected panel’s consent agenda Monday night, though one resident took board members to task before the vote.

“How are we justifying that increase? How are we justifying the $15,000 in bonus?” said Viola Kaeseberg, who has lived in the village for the last 20 years.

She called the manager’s compensation “irrational” at the same time board members are increasing the property tax levy 2.29%. She also cited previous raises they awarded Recklaus — oftentimes, above the rate of inflation: 6% in 2024; 7% in 2023; 7% in 2022; 5% in 2021; and 5% in 2020.

“It’s obnoxious and it’s irresponsible,” she told village trustees. “If anyone who votes yes, shame on you. You asking us to pay more for taxes but you’re giving him more money.”

Mayor Jim Tinaglia defended the pay grades of all village employees — from Recklaus, the highest paid employee, to those who drive a truck.

“If there’s shame to be given, it’s shame all the way across the board here,” he said. “But I would argue that none of us feel shameful for it because of the work that these folks do every day to make your life and my life safe and comfortable, and without them, we would not have that. … We did what we believe is correct for all the right reasons.”

Recklaus inked a contract extension with the board last year that will keep him in the job through Nov. 10, 2028.