As I was sitting in the McHenry City Council Chambers while the aldermen and woman were debating hiking the city sales tax 50%, I was wondering how many of its employees earn over $100,000 a year.

Christopher Black, named to replace McHenry City Administrator Doug Maxeiner, who resigned.

The budget shortfall was about $950,000 and I was just wondering.

So I filed a handwritten Freedom of Information request with the man I knew would have to pull up the figures, even if he didn’t have the title of FOI Officer. He was finance guy Christopher Black.

Then, I read in the Northwest Herald that City Administrator Doug Maxeiner had resigned. I wondered why he had not been at the tax hike meeting.

Black was appointed to take his place.

So, here are the four guys earning more than a hundred grand a year:

$125,861 – Douglas Maxeiner
$109,419 – William Brogan
$103,448 – Roger Pechous
$100,596 – Christopher Black

I also asked for the cost of fringe benefits. Deputy Clerk Kathleen M. Junzer replied,

“This figure can vary depending on whether an employee is part of the police pension, IMRF (Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund), what insurance package they choose, etc.

“However, overall, the percentage of salary that encompasses fringe benefits is 45%.”