Tazewell County Board votes to not approve raise for county clerk

PEKIN, Ill. (25 News) – The Tazewell County Board voted Wednesday to deny a salary increase to its county clerk for the next four years.

Under the vote, Tazewell County Clerk and Recorder of Deeds John C. Ackerman will remain at his current salary of $101,069 rather than receive a proposed 3% increase.

Following the meeting, Ackerman told 25News that the board has the authority to set the salary and that voters ultimately will judge his performance.

“It’s the board’s prerogative to set the salary of whatever they deem is appropriate,” said Ackerman.

“They set it for what they- based on their evaluation- that’s up to them. The citizens of the county will decide whether or not I am re-elected in November. That is the vote that really matters to me,” he said, adding that he feels honored and privileged to serve in office.

During the meeting, several board members defended their decision, citing concerns about Ackerman’s conduct and arguing that approving a raise would not be appropriate.

Board members raised issues including his availability, compliance with county policies, communication with board members and spending of county funds, including questions surrounding a recent trip to Washington, D.C.

Ackerman pushed back against many of the allegations, particularly claims made by Tazewell County Board Vice Chairman Michael Harris, arguing they were misleading and lacked context.

“Harris claimed we charged air fair to the county for a recent trip to Washington DC. It’s a blatant lie,” said Ackerman to the board Wednesday night.

“He can look all day long and he’ll never find an airfare charge to the county for this trip. Why? The nonprofit that gave us a grant for the trip. The airfare was charged directly to their credit card. Didn’t go through the county’s dollars at all.”

Ackerman said the trip resulted in the county receiving $21,000 worth of election equipment at no cost to taxpayers.

He also argued the discussion should focus on the salary attached to the office rather than the individual currently serving in it.