WOODSTOCK – The McHenry County Board has a plan to raise nonunion staff wages without raising its property tax levy.

Two County Board committees have recommended, on 5-1 votes, to authorize a 2.5 percent merit-based increase in fiscal 2013 for the county’s nonunion employees.

The total cost, calculated at roughly $600,000, can be handled while still honoring the intention of many board members to keep the levy flat, County Administrator Peter Austin told the Finance and Audit Committee before its Tuesday vote.