Rock Island Today

Although 15 deputy clerks and two state's attorney's assistants were laid off on May 8 in response to 80 percent less court cases due to the COVID-19 crisis, Rock Island County planned to increase salaries for several elected offices. After the plan received criticism and resistance, the officials declined the raise and the board modified its resolutions.

The county’s finance and personnel committee met via teleconference on May 12 and voted to give 2 percent raises to four different positions: circuit clerk, recorder, coroner and county auditor. Afterward, however, the individuals who hold those offices—Tammy Wiekert, Kelly Fisher, Brian Gustafson and April Palmer, respectively—collectively decided to decline pay increases for the next four years, according to county administrator Jim Snider.

"This is the biannual resolution to set office holder salaries for the county," he said. "The change occurs when the office is up for election. This is not based on who's in office; it's based on who's up for election."

Salaries must be set six months before an election, according to Sheriff Gerry Bustos, and one is happening in November.

Prior to the modified resolution, Bustos said, "I can tell you without a doubt that all of our county-wide elected officials—especially now—are working more and having to do more with less. Any thought that we are somehow making more than other parts of the state simply isn't true. Although I know this is a very odd time to be coming to the board and looking at pay increases for just these few people, I think it's also very much in line with the increases everyone has gotten throughout the county, regardless of where you work, and our elected officials deserve it."

During the May 13 meeting, citizens were given the opportunity to voice their opinions before Snider's announcement that the four elected officials would forego their pay increases.

Gary Snider said, "I am upset with the fact you are considering raises for elected officials. Circuit Clerk Tammy Weikert [laid off] 15 employees because revenue isn't coming in. Certainly it's a slap in the face to the taxpayer and the 15 people who were laid off."

Wiekert agreed. "It is inappropriate at this time to even consider something like a raise," she said. "It is detrimental for my office to be able to function under these conditions. We had to reduce staff now so we can sustain ourselves going forward. We had no choice. It is my intent to call back those employees as quickly as I can."

Snider said the agreement with assistant state's attorneys is unchanged and they will receive their raises, which does not include Dora Villarreal, whose base salary of $170,824 as state’s attorney is set by the state.

Board members will stay at $2,400 annually, with $100 per county board meeting and $100 for other committee meetings—and all board members are on at least one committee. Committee chairs also receive an additional $290 per month.