McHenry Co. corrections officers get raises

The McHenry County Board this week approved raises in a new three-year contract for some of its sheriff’s department corrections employees.

The contract, which applies to 173 deputy sheriffs and corrections officers, was approved Dec. 20 and is retroactive to Dec. 1. It includes 2 percent raises in the first year, 2.75 percent in the second year and 3 percent in the third year through Nov. 30, 2014.

The new contract also calls for insurance co-payments of 15 percent, up from 10 percent, and a gradual decrease in carry-over comp time from 180 hours in the first year to 120 in the third year.

The last four-year contract called for a 4 percent raise in 2007, and 4.25 percent raises in the next three years, County Administrator Peter Austin said.

Representatives of the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council were not available for comment.

County board member Randall Donley was among five board members who voted against the new contract.

“The vote was in no way insinuating that our county police was not deserving of their salary,” he said. “I was staying consistent with what I believe our policy to be of giving no raises. However, there have been some (raises) done already.”

In October, the board approved 3 percent raises for the county’s nonunion employees. Donley was absent from that meeting.

Other board members who voted no were Diane Evertsen, Donna Kurtz, Mary McCann and Ersel Schuster. Board member John Hammerand was absent.