County staff urge higher pay; local group asks board to place nonbinding separation referendum on ballot

Two public commenters at the start of the meeting pressed the board on issues that intersected with the budget vote.

Jesse Buck, who identified himself as an Adams County IT department employee, said the proposed 4% across-the-board increase "does not reflect the value or the dedication of the employees who serve this county every day." Buck told the board that starting pay for IT support in a 2025 salary survey is roughly $46,000 while the countys starting IT salary is $44,179, "nearly $2,000 below the market rate," and highlighted the departments role maintaining the health department, 9-1-1 call center, court systems and sheriff's office.

Separately, David Blickin, who said he represents Illinois Separation, asked the board to approve adding a nonbinding referendum to the Nov. 2026 general election ballot asking whether Adams County should "correspond with the boards of the other counties of Illinois outside of Cook County about the possibility of separating from Cook County to form a new state and to seek admission to the union as such, subject to the approval of the people." Blickin said the referendum is intended only to measure public sentiment, not to take immediate legal steps.

Public responses and context: Board members acknowledged employee concerns and discussed the difference between union and nonunion compensation, longevity steps and total compensation (including employer-paid health benefits). The board did not act on the separation referendum request during the meeting; no formal motion to place it on the ballot was recorded.

Next steps: The board directed staff and the finance committee to continue compensation analysis; any formal request to place a referendum on the ballot would require a separate motion and vote and was not advanced at this meeting.