Pay freezes proposed for DuPage County officials

Six DuPage County Board members and several countywide elected officials may not get a pay raise during their next terms.

County board members on Tuesday are expected to consider freezing the pay for the auditor, coroner, recorder and circuit court clerk for the next four years. They also are slated to consider a pay freeze for six county board seats for the next two years.

Each of the positions are up for election in November.

Currently, all 18 county board members receive an annual salary of $52,102. In addition, they are eligible to receive health insurance and dental insurance. Some were able to sign up for pensions from the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund until a 2016 state law eliminated that perk for new members.

Two years ago, the board froze the pay of a dozen members - and the board chairman - for fiscal 2021 and 2022. Now the pay for the remaining board seats could be frozen during that time.

As for the countywide elected officials, the auditor, coroner and recorder each make $151,362 a year, and the circuit court clerk receives $168,814 a year. A proposed ordinance calls for freezing those salaries through fiscal year 2024.

All countywide officials in DuPage get a $450 a month vehicle allowance from the county.

State law requires the salaries of county board members and countywide elected officials be established at least 180 days before the beginning of their terms.

State's Attorney Robert Berlin is up for reelection this November, but the amount of his annual salary is determined by the state. Currently, he is paid $173,744 a year.

The proposed freezes are scheduled to be discussed during a finance committee meeting before being considered by the full county board.

The 8 a.m. finance committee meeting will be streamed live through the county's YouTube channel. The 10 a.m. regular board meeting will be streamed live through the county's website at dupageco.org.