McLean County Board rejects proposed pay increase, votes to preserve current salaries for incoming board

The McLean County Board debated a proposed ordinance to raise county board compensation before ultimately rejecting the initial proposal and voting to preserve the current salary structure for incoming members.

Vice Chair Rogel introduced the ordinance (item 7a1b) proposing updated pay levels. Several members objected to the timing amid rising property tax bills and described the increase — characterized in discussion as roughly 25% — as excessive. "I don't think $25,000 worth of value is being added to this county by this chairman," Member Tompkins said in opposing the increase. Other members defended an increase to broaden participation: "If we want a representative body... having an additional surplus income really helps us," Member Hansen said, and Member Mendoza argued higher pay helps recruit younger and single‑parent candidates.

County legal counsel and staff clarified statutory timing: compensation must be fixed at least 180 days before the beginning of terms for officers whose compensation is fixed, making the action time‑sensitive for incoming board members and effectively requiring the board to set some salary schedule now. On the initial roll call, the proposed increase failed.

Member Bessler moved to reconsider and offered an amendment to retain the existing compensation schedule taken from the 2024 ordinance: annual salaries of $4,900 for board members and $19,522 for the chair, effective Jan. 1, 2027 through Dec. 31, 2030, plus existing allowances. On roll call after amendment, the ordinance to keep salaries flat passed 12–4.

Chair Johnson noted that the adopted approach sets a pay structure for incoming members while future boards can revisit compensation. The board did not enact the raised salaries discussed in the failed motion; the amendment preserves current pay levels and timelines.