McHenry County Board hopefuls debate budget cuts

In a harsh economic climate with governmental bodies across Illinois and the country announcing budget deficits, McHenry County has a balanced budget.

This with almost $7 million less than the county had to budget last year.

But candidates for the county board's District 2 have spending on their minds. Republican candidate Donna Kurtz and Democrat Mark Booras both think a long-term goal of reducing the size of the county board would be a good way to save money.

Republican incumbent Ken Koehler thinks that's a bad idea.

Kurtz advocates cutting the board from 24 people four from each of the six districts down to 12. She said having one more board member than Lake County with a smaller population is unnecessary.

“One of my absolute top issues is fiscal responsibility through reducing the size of government,” Kurtz said.

Though he agrees with the reduction, Booras takes a slightly more conservative stance on it reducing the board to 18 is reasonable enough. Booras points to the savings in salaries and benefits and said with post-census redistricting in 2012 that would be the time to do it.

“If you've ever been to a county board meeting, when you see the 24 it almost seems like overkill,” Booras said.

Koehler, a 10-year board member and its current chairman, thinks the growing population warrants a 24-member board and said the duties of each individual would be too great with fewer people. He finds the cost-saving argument unconvincing.

“Reducing board members would have a very minimal effect, dollar-wise,” Koehler said, pointing out that board members receive salaries of about $20,000. Health care benefits, for those who choose them, may push that total closer to $30,000. That means, on the high end, cost for board salaries and benefits is less than 2 percent of the county's more than $40 million budget.

Beyond the board, Booras and Kurtz look to other cost-saving measures.

Booras also advocates initiating an incentive program to reward county employees with cost-saving ideas. He said it would change the model of management to be more bottom-up, one he said promotes the best ideas.

Kurtz calls for consistent mandates to reduce spending across all departments, more selective overtime allocations and development that does not create a higher tax burden.

Koehler said spending reduction has already been done and that's why the board was able to balance the budget this year.

“It's good fiscal management of the taxpayer dollars,” Koehler said. “We are not frivolous in any way, shape or form in the way we spend their money. It's our money, too.”

Voters will elect two of the three candidates on Tuesday.