Lake County Set To Freeze Raises, Keep Property Tax Bill Schedule

WAUKEGAN, IL — Lake County taxpayers affected by the coronavirus pandemic are set to receive their property tax bills as scheduled, but at least they will avoid paying increased salaries to elected officials.

In an remotely conducted meeting Thursday, the Financial and Administrative Committee of the Lake County Board decided against delaying tax collection or waiving late payment fees, an idea strongly opposed by local governments. Board members may still develop some kind of COVID-related tax relief in the future, the Daily Herald reported.

But the committee decided in favor of moving forward with a plan to freeze the salaries of the county's coroner, recorder of deeds and circuit court clerk at their current level — $126,874 before benefits — for the next four years. The board has until next month to approve the salary schedule for the positions. All three are up for election in November, and state law requires their salaries be set at least six months in advance, according to the newspaper.

Recorder Mary Ellen Vanderventer, Circuit Court Clerk Erin Cartwright Weinstein and Coroner Howard Cooper opposed the plan to freeze their scheduled raises, suggesting they be paused for two years but restored by the end of 2024. But finance committee members said they could not fathom having to fire county workers so elected officials can keep receiving scheduled raises, the Daily Herald reported.

The committee also recommended freezing the salaries of the seven board members whose seats are on the ballot for two years and lowering the salary of Board Chair Sandy Hart by eliminating a stipend she earned by serving as liquor commissioner of the county, according to the report.

Thursday's committee meeting was conduced through teleconferencing and livestreamed online ahead of a meeting of the full Lake County Board. Members decided to extend the county's state of emergency declared in response to the spread of COVID-19. The adjusted salary plan is due to go before the full board on May 12.