Revenue Generation in Edgar County – Part 4

Double Dipping in Edgar County?

You would think that with all the people in charge SOMEONE would have said something about this, put a stop to it, and demanded the money be returned or taken out of the persons pay who allowed it to happen. 

Where on earth is the accountability to the tax payers in this county? 

Please, someone tell me!

Now this story is one that I hardly could believe, but after numerous Freedom of Information requests, it is in fact true! 

Can ANYONE in this county tell us how a department head receiving a salary to perform a job is able to draw additional county pay for working in another department of the county during the same time they are getting paid as a department head?

In fact, not only did this person draw a salary as a department head, they had something no other county employee had.  A vehicle to drive, $200 month in fuel expense, complete health, dental, vision, and life insurance, cell phone for themselves and minutes to share for their family, county credit card for fuel to use as their own line of revolving credit of which well over $200 a month was charged, $50 every month for attending meetings that only took place every other month not to mention their job description outlined attendance was part of the job for which they were being paid, and since that wasn’t enough…………………………..additional pay for working for their boyfriend, now spouse, who was an elected official in another department of the county.

And not only was this person working in their significant others’ department, they were taking available hours that under union contract were supposed to first be offered to those people hired to do that specific job.  Failing to do that I believe would be a violation to the union contract.  

This activity took place for over 5 years according to pay records from the county treasures office.  

Again, how does a department head drawing a list of benefits like no other county employee get away with also drawing over $8,500.00 of county tax payers money from their boyfriends department?

The bigger question, how does this elected official who was supposed to be upholding the laws in this county as a chief law enforcement officer justify this action?

Now if the County would start following the law maybe this type of stuff would be discovered promptly and dealt with accordingly.

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=005500050HDiv%2E+6%2D31&ActID=750&ChapterID=12&SeqStart=138000000&SeqEnd=139100000

 55 ILCS 5/6‑31005) (from Ch. 34, par. 6‑31005)
    Sec. 6‑31005. Funds managed by county officials. In addition to any other audit required by this Division, the County Board shall cause an audit to be made of all funds and accounts under the management or control of a county official as soon as possible after such official leaves office for any reason. The audit shall be filed with the county board not later than 6 months after the official leaves office. The audit shall be conducted and the audit report shall be prepared and filed with the Chairman of the County Board by a person lawfully qualified to practice public accounting as regulated by "An Act to regulate the practice of public accounting and to repeal certain acts therein named", approved July 22, 1943 as amended.
 

As used in this Section, "county official" means any elected county officer or any officer appointed by the county board who is charged with the management or control of any county funds; and "audit" means a post facto examination of books, documents, records, and other evidence relating to the obligation, receipt, expenditure or use of public funds of the county, including governmental operations relating to such obligations, receipt, expenditure or use.

You see, if we were to enforce the laws on the books we could hold people accountable and possibly save a boat load of money and even generate revenue for the county by enforcing fines allowable by law for those found guilty of breaking the law. 

Income Generation through enforcing the laws on the books!  What a concept!

I think its time our County Board start following state law and provide We The People with the audits required by law! 

What do you think? 

If you think this story is over the top, wait just a bit longer as we have yet another one that tops this times 10!