SB2237 amends the Illinois Counties Code to increase the annual state-paid award, or stipend, provided to three county election-related and recording offices: county clerks, county recorders, and chief clerks of county boards of election commissioners. The bill raises the stipend from $6,500 per year to $13,000 for calendar year 2025, $14,000 for calendar year 2026, and $15,000 for calendar year 2027 and each year thereafter. The stipend is described as separate from, and in addition to, the officers’ other compensation under the Code.
The bill also updates the administrative and funding language tied to these payments. It directs the State Board of Elections to remit the required amounts to counties, with counties depositing the money into a dedicated fund and paying the stipend within 10 business days. It further clarifies that the stipend is not part of base compensation, and that counties are responsible for tax withholding and employer pension contributions associated with the stipend. The measure takes effect immediately.
Impact
SB2237 would increase state-funded compensation for county clerks, county recorders, and chief clerks of county boards of election commissioners across Illinois, affecting counties of all sizes. It would amend Section 4-6001 of the Counties Code, changing the statutory stipend amounts and reinforcing the payment mechanism through the State Board of Elections and county payroll systems. Counties would need to handle the stipend through dedicated funds and comply with withholding and pension reporting requirements, while the state would be obligated to appropriate and distribute the higher amounts.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes, the available record suggests a straightforward compensation measure with no documented public debate in the provided materials. The bill appears to be framed as a routine adjustment to officer stipends rather than a broader policy change. Because there are no transcripts or vote tallies, no clear bipartisan or partisan sentiment can be inferred from the supplied context.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided committee materials or voting history. Potential issues implied by the bill itself include the cost of increasing state appropriations, the administrative burden on counties to process the stipend and related tax and pension obligations, and whether the increase should be phased in or made permanent at the higher level. However, the record supplied here does not identify any legislators, county officials, or other stakeholders explicitly opposing or supporting those concerns.