Beth Beatty decided in July to increase the pay for 101 non-union city staff, but she made her 3.25 percent raises retroactive to January.
JOLIET, IL — At least 37 non-union staff, including several Joliet City Hall department heads, recently received retroactive pay increases of at least $4,000 from city manager Beth Beatty, Joliet Patch confirmed through a series of Freedom of Information Act requests.
The raises, which the city has called 3.25 percent cost of living adjustments, were approved by Beatty in July. Although the COLA increases took effect during the August paychecks for 101 full-time city staff, the salary increases were retroactive to January, according to the city. If all 101 city employees work until the end of the year, the budget impact will be $361,122, city officials informed Joliet Patch.
For someone on Beatty’s staff previously making a salary of $150,000, a COLA increase of 3.25 percent has increased their pay by $4,875.
According to Joliet Patch’s analysis of the pay increases authorized by Beatty:
23 staff received pay increases of more than $5,000
14 received salary increases of at least $4,000 but less than $5,000
11 received increases of at least $3,000 but less than $4,000
The pay increases for Beatty’s top staff come less than a year after Beatty urged the Joliet City Council to approve a 2025 operating budget calling for a property tax increase and a fuel tax increase for the residents of Joliet. Then, in August, Mayor Terry D’Arcy broke a 4-4 Joliet City Council tie and cast his vote in favor of making Joliet citizens pay more taxes for their groceries in 2026.
“The City Of Joliet Has Followed Its Established Precedent:” DiBenedetto
Rosemaria DiBenedetto, one of the recipients of a $5,197 salary increase from Beatty, responded to Joliet Patch’s series of written questions with a lengthy statement on behalf of the city. DiBenedetto was hired in May 2024 to fill Joliet’s newly created position in the city manager’s office, media engagement and communications director.
“The City of Joliet has officially implemented cost of living increases for both union and non-union employees in 2025, reaffirming its commitment to keeping wages aligned with inflation and current market conditions,” DiBenedetto explained.
“While the exact percentage of the increase may not match the annual inflation rate each year, the long-term objective is to ensure employee wages keep pace with inflation over time. Traditionally, the City of Joliet has implemented COLAs on annually on January 1. This timing is codified in all union contracts and in city ordinances governing non-union employees. However, as of December 31, 2024, five of the city’s union contracts had expired, prompting the need for new negotiations to determine the 2025 increases.”
In preparation for this story, Joliet Patch asked for an explanation as far as why Beatty made the salary increases retroactive to January, rather than just implement them in August.
“The City Manager opted to delay cost of living increases for the small number of non-union employees — who represent less than 15 percent of the city’s 950-person workforce — until agreements with the unions could be finalized,” DiBenedetto wrote. “By July 2025, four of the six union contracts had been successfully renegotiated, with talks continuing for the remaining two.
“Recent increases in fuel taxes and property tax revenues should not be attributed to the COLAs,” DiBenedetto responded. “The 2025 budget reflects a broader investment in city services, including the hiring of 14 new police officers and seven new fire department personnel. The fuel tax was increased to ensure that the city has the necessary vehicles to provide services to the community.
“In summary, while the timeline for implementation was adjusted due to union negotiations, the City of Joliet has followed its established precedent in ensuring all employees receive appropriate cost of living adjustments—this year, retroactive to the start of 2025.”
What Top Officials At City Hall, Police Department, Fire Department Make Now
The following 23 people with the city of Joliet received pay increases of more than $4,000:
Anthony Anczer, deputy director of engineering, public utilities administration
New Annual Pay: $159,898
Previous Annual Pay: $154,865
Retroactive COLA salary increase: $5,033
Dustin Anderson, director of community development
New Annual Pay: $185,850
Previous Annual Pay: $180,000
Retroactive COLA salary increase: $5,850
William Baltz, deputy director field operations, public utilities water
New Annual Pay: $159,898
Previous Annual Pay: $154,865
Retroactive COLA salary increase: $5,033
Sherrie Blackburn, deputy police chief
New Annual Pay: $187,009
Previous Annual Pay: $181,122
Retroactive COLA salary increase: $5,887
Christopher Botzum, deputy police chief
New Annual Pay: $187,009
Previous Annual Pay: $181,122
Retroactive COLA salary increase: $5,887
Stephanie Brooks, property maintenance coordinator, community development/neighborhood services
New Annual Pay: $133,193
Previous Annual Pay: $129,000
Retroactive COLA salary increase: $4,193
Robert Brown, deputy police chief
New Annual Pay: $187,009
Previous Annual Pay: $181,122
Retroactive COLA salary increase: $5,887
Jeff Carey, fire chief
New Annual Pay: $204,277
Previous Annual Pay: $197,847
Retroactive COLA salary increase: $6,430
Christine Chinderle, assistant director of finance
New Annual Pay: $159,898
Previous Annual Pay: $154,865
Retroactive COLA salary increase: $5,033
Jamie Corrigan, deputy communications director, police 911
New Annual Pay: $133,845
Previous Annual Pay: $129,632
Retroactive COLA salary increase: $4,213
Jeffrey D’Aleo, senior network engineer, information technology
New Annual Pay: $130,095
Previous Annual Pay: $126,000
Retroactive COLA salary increase: $4,095
Andrea DeLap, communications director police,
New Annual Pay: $144,044
Previous Annual Pay: $139,510
Retroactive COLA salary increase: $4,534
Christa Desiderio, deputy city manager
New Annual Pay: $195,359
Previous Annual Pay: $189,210
Retroactive COLA salary increase: $6,149
Rosemaria DiBenedetto, director of media engagement and communications
New Annual Pay: $165,097
Previous Annual Pay: $159,900
Retroactive COLA salary increase: $5,197
Amanda Dite, deputy director of information technology
New Annual Pay: $145,582
Previous Annual Pay: $141,000
Retroactive COLA salary increase: $4,582
Bill Evans, chief of police
New Annual Pay: $204,277
Previous Annual Pay: $197,847
Retroactive COLA salary increase: $6,430
Joe Fleischauer, director of neighborhood services,
New Annual Pay: $157,071
Previous Annual Pay: $152,127
Retroactive COLA salary increase: $4,944
Kathy Franson, director of human resources, retires October 31.
New Annual Pay: $176,819
Previous Annual Pay: $171,253
Retroactive COLA salary increase: $5,566
Nicholas Gornick, deputy director plant operations, public utilities
New Annual Pay: $159,898
Previous Annual Pay: $154,865
Retroactive COLA salary increase: $5,033
Steven Kline, facilities management director, community development/neighborhood services
New Annual Pay: $137,782
Previous Annual Pay: $133,445
Retroactive COLA salary increase: $4,337
John Koch, deputy fire chief
New Annual Pay: $183,594
Previous Annual Pay: $177,815
Retroactive COLA salary increase: $5,779
Aaron Kozlowski, deputy fire chief
New Annual Pay: $183,594
Previous Annual Pay: $177,815
Retroactive COLA salary increase: $5,779
Gina Logalbo, assistant corporation counsel
New Annual Pay: $138,892
Previous Annual Pay: $134,520
Retroactive COLA salary increase: $4,372
Joel Marino, distribution systems superintendent, public utilities field operations
New Annual Pay: $144,044
Previous Annual Pay: $139,510
Retroactive COLA salary increase: $4,534
Paulina Martinez, director of economic development
New Annual Pay: $139,388
Previous Annual Pay: $135,000
Retroactive COLA salary increase: $4,388
Carlos Matlock, deputy chief of police
New Annual Pay: $187,009
Previous Annual Pay: $181,122
Retroactive COLA salary increase: $5,887
Sean Mikos, deputy director of public works
New Annual Pay: $159,898
Previous Annual Pay: $154,865
Retroactive COLA salary increase: $5,033
Joseph Nordman, deputy director of operations in public works
New Annual Pay: $159,898
Previous Annual Pay: $154,865
Retroactive COLA salary increase: $5,033