CHAMPAIGN – About 140 non-union Champaign County employees are in line for a 2.5 percent salary increase, their first raise since December 2008.

Champaign Republican Alan Nudo called the raise a "bonus" since it is not guaranteed beyond Dec. 1.

"We can't put this onto next year's base not knowing what's going to happen," said Nudo.

Urbana Democrat Brendan McGinty, who chairs the board's finance committee, said the raise would not increase the employees' base pay.

"This is a one-time, 2.5 percent increase. Because of continued uncertainty we want to reward the employees but we can't be irresponsible about the uncertainties the future still might hold. When we go into 2012 we want some flexibility there if we need it," McGinty said. "This is just a one-time increase off their base for this year. We hope to be able to do more next year."

The county board will vote on the raise, estimated to cost the county about $140,000, at next Thursday's full board meeting. The raise already was approved by the board in a committee of the whole meeting earlier this week.

The wage increase was suggested by County Administrator Deb Busey, said board Chairman C. Pius Weibel.

"She took a look at the budget and determined there was room for it," Weibel said. "I think our employees should get a raise, even though I have not gotten one for six years."

McGinty said the county also has offered raises "close to that" with its various bargaining unit employees, including AFSCME.

"Deb thought that would be affordable based on pretty conservative projections for revenue. The state is about four months behind on its payments now, but it's regularly four months behind," McGinty said. "The employees have waited long enough."

County board members are paid a $45 per diem for each day they attend a meeting. The board chairman's salary is $29,274 annually, according to the county's annual audit report. Weibel estimated that he works between 10 and 25 hours a week as board chairman.