The Crawford County sheriff is getting a raise with the state picking up the lion’s share of the tab.

And while Crawford County Board members agree the position merits higher pay, they aren’t pleased with how Springfield mandated the change.

The board Thursday approved a resolution establishing the sheriff’s salary in accordance with a new state law. According to the law, all counties must pay their sheriff’s at least 80 percent of what their state’s attorneys receive. In return, the state will reimburse the counties two-thirds of the salary, in the same way it reimburses other county officials’ pay.

Counties get to set the actual percentage but otherwise have no other say in the matter.

“Why did the state feel the need to get involved?” board member Jon Goff asked.

“It was a real quick thing the people in Springfield rushed out there,” State’s Attorney Cole Shaner told the board.

Shaner and Sheriff William Rutan explained the Illinois Sheriff’s Association went to the legislature to make sheriff’s pay more consistent statewide.

Some sheriffs were making less than minimum wage. Rutan, who had voluntarily taken a three-year salary freeze sometime back, made less than some of his deputies when they drew overtime. He also made less than the police chiefs of Robinson and Palestine.

The change, which will take effect Dec. 1, after the general election, will bump the salary from $75,000 to $116,500. The board agreed to go with the minimum 80 percent of the state’s attorney’s salary.

And while this means the county’s share of the salary is less than it pays now, it does not mean more tax dollars are flowing into the county. The state’s share of the amount is money that will be diverted from some other program, board Chairman David Fulling said.

Other board members were concerned it would open the door to the state interfering in other ways. Rutan said it should not affect operations in any way except creating some additional paperwork. He vowed no matter what Springfield does, he will abide by his oath of office to uphold the constitutions of the United States and the State of Illinois.

Fulling cast the sole nay vote on the matter. Garry Wilson and Kevin Dart were absent.

In other financial business, the board approved an agreement with Bellwether Budget Services for the 2022-23 budget.

The financial consulting firm has been working with the county to help it overcome its financial difficulties. In return for $12,000 in federal COVID-19 relief funds, it will work with county officers to find better, less expensive ways to do things and will help prepare the fiscal 2023 budget.

Fulling said the company is more qualified to prepare a budget than the board is, adding other counties that have used its services have saved money. He believes having Bellwether handle budgeting this year will benefit the new board that will be elected Nov. 8.

Goff voted no on the plan.

The board also approved an ordinance to opt out of the state’s new Preferential Assessment for Affordable Rental Housing Construction and Rehabilitation.

The low-income housing law establishing two new property tax incentive programs was created with Chicago and Cook County in mind, Supervisor of Assessments Hope Weber told the board in April.

The programs offer to reduce tax assessments for new or renovated low-income housing, Weber said. While that is a positive, the state made the process “unnecessarily complicated” and “very time consuming” for local officials to oversee, she explained.

The waiver “won’t hamper the concept of low-income housing in the county at all,” she said, adding there are other incentives already in place for those who might offer such housing.

Also, board members met new Crawford County Health Department Administrator Mikayla Gascich. Gascich, who joined the CCHD a year ago, was promoted to administrator following the departure of Madelyn Taylor April 19.

She told the board the latest community needs assessment has been completed. Mental health services, obesity and cancer were identified as the three most significant health problems needing addressed here.

Efforts are underway to raise funds to build outdoor kennels for dogs kept at the county animal control facility. The installation of a concrete pad is being donated, but money is needed for other parts of the project.

In a related matter, the board learned Paws for Prevention has given out dozens of certificates for spaying and neutering since the first of the year, including 18 for cats and 28 for dogs this month so far.

It has also trapped and released 20 feral cats and is preparing for a trap-and-release project in Porterville.

In other business, the board:

• Learned from Shaner that there have been 92 felonies and 43 misdemeanors in the county since Jan. 1, almost all related to methamphetamine.
• Heard from Rutan that nine men and three women were shipped out of the county jail to the Illinois Department of Corrections last month. Another man and two women left Thursday and two more inmates were scheduled to go Friday. Thirteen are still waiting, however, and the jail remains full.
• Re-appointed Cris Harris to the Oblong Township Fire Protection District Board.