Casey Fire District Board Approves Administrative Salary Raise, Adopts Tentative Budget

Article Summary: The Casey Fire Protection District Board of Trustees approved a significant raise for an administrative salary to $10,000 and adopted the tentative budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year during its June 4 meeting. The decisions, which shape the district’s financial future, followed a brief closed-door executive session.

Casey Fire Protection District Board Key Points:

• Approved a motion to raise an “Administrative Salary” to $10,000.

• The vote occurred immediately after the board met in an eight-minute executive session.

• The tentative budget and appropriation ordinance for the 2025-2026 fiscal year was also formally adopted.

• The motion for the salary increase was made by Trustee Mike Sherwood and seconded by Trustee John Crouch.

CASEY, IL – The Casey Fire Protection District Board of Trustees took decisive financial action at its Wednesday meeting, voting to increase an administrative salary to $10,000 and formally adopting its tentative budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

The board entered into a closed executive session at 6:22 p.m. following a motion by Trustee Alan Hutton and a second by Trustee Mike Sherwood. After reconvening in public session at 6:30 p.m., the board immediately addressed the salary matter.

Trustee Mike Sherwood made a motion to raise the “Administrative Salary” to $10,000 per year. The motion was seconded by Trustee John Crouch and passed, though the minutes did not specify which administrative position would receive the raise or what the previous salary was. Such salary discussions are a permitted reason for public bodies to enter into executive session under the Illinois Open Meetings Act.

Following the salary approval, the board moved to secure its financial framework for the next fiscal year. Sherwood made another motion, this time to accept the tentative 2025-2026 budget and appropriation ordinance, which had been listed on the agenda as a key item of new business. Trustee Terry Honselman seconded the motion, and it was approved by the board. This action allows the tentative budget to be made available for public inspection before a final vote is taken at a future meeting.

The meeting was attended by trustees Billy Garver, John Crouch, Terry Honselman, Mike Sherwood, Alan Hutton, and Jason Garver. The series of votes represents a significant step in shaping the district’s spending and compensation priorities for the coming year.

Financial Report and Bills Approved

Trustees approved the financial report for the period ending June 4, 2025. The district’s balance was reported at $47,511.78 after accounting for $7,068.93 in expenditures since the last meeting. A motion by Trustee Billy Garver, seconded by Trustee Alan Hutton, to approve the report and pay the outstanding bills was passed without opposition, handling the district’s routine financial obligations.