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Committee recommends $2,500 annual raises for County Clerk and Treasurer for 2026–2030 term
Summary
The Finance Committee voted to recommend $2,500-per-year salary increases for the County Clerk and the Treasurer for the four-year term starting Dec. 1, 2026; members reviewed comparable counties and discussed hours and benefits eligibility for elected officials.
The DeWitt County Finance Committee on May 18 recommended that the full board set the salaries for the County Clerk and Treasurer at increases of $2,500 per year for the term beginning Dec. 1, 2026, through Nov. 30, 2030.
Claro Carter presented three compensation scenarios — a 3% annual increase, a 4% annual increase, and a flat $2,500-per-year raise — and said he compared salaries with similarly sized counties. Carter moved the $2,500-per-year recommendation; Megan Myers seconded the motion for the County Clerk and Terry Ferguson seconded the Treasurer motion. Both recommendations passed on voice votes.
Committee members noted the offices each receive a $6,500 stipend from the state. Carter said the county could not consider that stipend when setting the four-year term salary. Staff circulated wage-comparison tables drawn from counties in the judicial circuit and UCCI comparables to justify the proposed amount.
County Clerk Kari Harris objected to characterizations of her hours and said she is salaried and "works 24/7," explaining she is in the office Monday through Thursday and works from home on Fridays using her phone and a laptop from the previous clerk. Chair Melonie Tilley cautioned that eligibility for county insurance and retirement benefits generally requires a 30-hour-per-week threshold, creating a separate question about benefits for elected officials.
The committee recommended forwarding the salary decisions to the full board for final action.
