Cook County Board Approves Salary Increases for All County Elected Officials Along with Yearly Adjustments in Perpetuity

Cook County Special Finance Committee and Special Board Meeting
May 24, 2022
 
By a vote of 13 to 4, the Finance Committee and then the Board approved Item 22-2825, which provides for a 10% increase as of the beginning of the new terms of all County Elected Officials, effective December 2022 (2024 for the Clerk of the Court).  Thereafter, the salaries will be further adjusted each year by the lower of 3% or the change in the Chicago Consumer Price Index.  Such yearly adjustments would continue until and unless there was a vote by the Board to halt or change such adjustments.  The 4 nay votes came from Commissioners Aguilar, Arroyo, Deer, and Sean Morrison.  
 
Prior to the vote, Commissioner Suffredin announced that he would be introducing an ordinance at the June Board meeting which would call for another study of salaries of comparative positions in other jurisdictions in late 2024, with any additional salary changes to be voted on by the end of March 2025.  As explained by Commissioner Suffredin, this would provide notice to any potential candidates for the elected positions of what the salaries would be effective with the new terms that would begin in 2026 and 2028.
 
The Civic Federation in verbal testimony and the League of Women Voters of Cook County in written testimony both expressed support for the salary increases for the next terms.  However, both opposed the continuation of yearly adjustments beyond the 4-year terms without further study and affirmative vote.  Expressing opposition to any salary increases was former Commissioner and current candidate for Cook County President Richard Boykin.  
 
Observer:  Priscilla Mims