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Macomb, IL – The McDonough County Board's finance committee last week unanimously approved a three percent raise every year for the next four years for the Sheriff, Clerk and Treasurer. The increases would be in effect for their next four year terms.
But approval from the full county board didn't come as easily.
Board member Earl Godt expressed concern that the finance committee came up with what he described as an arbitrary number, and passed it without any data to back their decision.
"Given the [Consumer Price Index] for the last ten years, I don't think it's warranted," says Godt. "Even if you average the last ten years, it's only been a 2.5 percent [increase]. Last year it was a negative 0.4 percent. So, a three percent increase, each year, for the next four years, I don't think is fiscally responsible."
Godt defends using CPI trends on a local level because it's "the best data that we have." He says authorizing raises should be backed by some sort of data, especially if it's not based on cost of living increases.
Finance committee chair Alice Henry defended the raises. She says elected office holders' salaries in McDonough County are low compared to neighboring, or otherwise similar counties.
"There's room for improvement on our end," says Henry.
She says the sheriff, clerk and treasurer have been good about watching their budgets, and applauds them for helping keep the county's head above water.
The measure ended up passing the full board without much more of a challenge. 15 board members voted in favor, four opposed the raises, and two recused themselves from the vote.