Stop the Presses! Maine Township update! We might have been wrong!

Cook Co. (ECWd) –

In our constant effort to provide fact-based information in support of our articles, it appears we made a mistake and wanted to ensure the citizens of Maine Township have all the appropriate information.

The last time we got it wrong and had to run a correction article was when we exposed our former Edgar County Board Chairman Chris Patrick for getting “a” free driveway.  The correction story exposed we were wrong, as we have no problem admitting such, then exposed the second driveway we failed to report.  He is no longer serving in County Government.

I reported Maine Township Supervisor had amassed $1,672,706.00 in the General Assistance account based on the audit report. Apparently, I was wrong based on the Supervisor’s financial report.

The reported balance in the Supervisor’s financial report was $37,205.00 higher than in the audit, bringing the stockpiled taxpayer funds to  $1,709,911.00. It should be noted that both reports claim their numbers are for the year ending February 28, 2017? 

So which report is wrong- Ours, the Supervisor’s, or the Audit?

If it’s the Supervisor’s, then we retract this article as our reporting was based on the audit, which we believed to be correct.

With both reports claiming to be for the year ending February 28th, 2017, we find the Supervisor’s financial report is different than the audit as it relates to stockpiled taxpayer money in General Assistance, Administrative costs for General Assistance, and the actual General Assistance provided. The Supervisor’s report reflects $656,735.00 in administrative costs yet the audit reflected $697,804.00.   A difference of $41,069.00.  Actual General Assistance expenditure reflects $1,405.00 difference between the Audit and the Supervisor’s report.

With both reports being different, yet presented to the public as accurate representations of the finances of Maine Township, may we suggest an independent forensic audit to ensure taxpayer funds are being spent in compliance the law?

And for those who truly care about their tax dollars, let this statement from the 2016 audit sink in and ask yourself, why is the Township taking in over $1.2 million dollars more per year than actually needed?