County Finance Committee Advances Proposal for Elected Official Pay Raises After 20-Year Freeze

The Will County Finance Committee voted Thursday to advance a proposal that would provide the first salary increases for countywide elected officials and county board members in nearly two decades.

In a 4-1 vote, the committee recommended moving forward with a plan that would boost salaries for positions including the county executive, clerk, treasurer, auditor, coroner, and county board members beginning in 2026, after upcoming election cycles.

“The last time the board voted to raise countywide salaries… was 2004. So 21 years ago was the last vote that was taken,” explained County Treasurer Tim Brophy. “Had you awarded similar increases to countywide elected officials… just 4%, that number would be 72% higher today.”

The proposal would increase the county executive’s salary from the current $93,116 to $115,000 in 2026, a 24.6% increase. County board members would see their compensation rise from $23,000 to $28,000, a 22% increase. Other elected positions would receive similar percentage increases.

Finance Committee discussions revealed that the county ranks 14th in pay for countywide elected officials among comparable Illinois counties, despite being the third-largest county outside of Cook County.

“With me being the new speaker, I felt it was time that we actually face the music and bring this to the attention of the county board members and try to do what’s right,” said Speaker Joe VanDuyne. “It’s been going on way too long.”

The increases would not take effect until after the next elections for each position, with some implemented in 2026 and others in 2028, making them applicable to future officeholders rather than current officials.

Committee member Dan Butler cast the lone dissenting vote, expressing concerns about creating salary incentives for public service.

“I think that anyone that runs for office and is elected by the people should be here for that purpose as a privilege to represent their people,” Butler said. “I don’t feel that there should be a high incentive as far as salary goes because I feel like it might attract the wrong kind of people.”

Several committee members argued that the current salary levels make it difficult to attract qualified candidates for these positions.

“Your peers are looking at you saying… this is a reflection of your respect for the statutory duties assigned to you. This is how little you respect them,” Brophy told the committee. “The bankers in town won’t look at a job like this for 90-some thousand.”

According to financial projections presented at the meeting, implementing all proposed salary increases would cost approximately $136,000 in fiscal year 2026-2027.

The salary proposal will next be considered by the executive committee before potentially moving to the full county board for final approval.