Editor's note: This story was originally published in the Belleville News-Democrat.
The St. Clair County Board voted 20-4 at their last meeting to increase elected officials’ salaries starting after the general election, including an 11% raise for the county board chairman.
The chairman’s pay hasn’t increased for several years, and the board’s April 29 salary ordinance makes it the same as other elected officials’ pay, according to County Board Chairman Mark Kern.
The raises begin Jan. 1, 2025, when the chairman, treasurer, assessor, county clerk, auditor, circuit clerk, coroner and county recorder will all be paid $106,540. The other elected administrative officials were already making over $100,000 but the chairman’s salary was $95,899.
County elected officials are up for reelection on Nov. 5. Most of them, including Kern, didn’t have opposition in the March 19 primary.
County Board members will also receive raises under the new salary ordinance starting in 2027, when their pay will increase 1.32% to $19,675.
The salaries and raises outlined in the ordinance won’t apply to anyone elected to these positions while drawing a pension. They would be paid a salary of only $2,000.
During the board meeting, Republican board member Ed Cockrell of District 20 criticized the County Board for approving the pay raises and collecting more tax money from property owners each year.
The board also voted April 29 to finalize this year’s tax levy, asking taxpayers for $48.9 million to support the county budget, a 3.74% increase from last year.
“Normally this is like 4-4.5%, sometimes even 5%,” Cockrell said of past tax levy increases.
One Democrat and three Republican members of the County Board voted no on the proposed pay raises: Scott Greenwald of District 10; Ed Cockrell of District 20; Andy Bittle of District 21; and Kevin Dawson of District 24.
Five Republicans voted yes: Michael O’Donnell of District 18; Phil Henning of District 19; Robert Wilhelm of District 26; Matt Smallheer of District 27; and John Coers of District 28.
Fifteen Democrats voted yes: Robert Allen Jr. of District 1; G.W. Scott Jr. of District 2; Harry Hollingsworth of District 4; Lonnie Mosley of District 5; Marty Crawford of District 6; Courtney Moore of District 7; Steve Gomric of District 8; Ken Sharkey of District 11; C. Richard Vernier of District 12; Bob Trentman of District 14; CJ Baricevic of District 16; Scott Tieman of District 17; Sue Gruberman of District 22; Jana Armstong Moll of District 23; and Richie Meile of District 25.
Three Democrats and one Republican were absent from the meeting: Roy Mosley Jr. of District 3; Ken Easterley of District 9; Stephen Reeb of District 13; and Jerry Dinges of District 15.
Lexi Cortes is a reporter with the Belleville News-Democrat, a news partner of St. Louis Public Radio.
