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March 29, 2024

Champaign County Board of Review’s Misuse of Supervisor of Assessment’s County Credit Card –

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen

On February 24, 2022

Champaign County, IL. (ECWd) –

The Board of Review has engaged in inappropriate use of public credits cards with their purchases of the following, using the County Supervisor of Assessment’s public credit card:

  • Jimmy Johns, $18.63, on Dec 27, 2021 – this was labeled as “employee lunch”
  • Biaggi’s, $140.00 on Dec 30, 2021 – this was labeled as “employee lunch”

The Biaggi’s receipt is for 4 entrées, 4 sides, and 4 deserts – who was the 4th person when the Board of Review is only 3 people?

John Bergee, Chairman of the Champaign County Board of Review, reimbursed the county for those funds, including the tip of $3.12, which showed up on the Supervisor of Assessment’s visa card bill.

According to the receipts, these unauthorized purchases were made as tax exempt purchases. Also, you can see John Bergee’s name on the receipt when it was the Supervisor of Assessment’s card being used.

Both purchases, according to responsive documents to a Freedom of Information Act request, were not in compliance with Champaign County policy and deemed non-conforming, and apparently the county purchase policy does not apply to elected officials (Bergee is not an elected official).

What does apply to elected officials (and everyone else) is the Illinois Constitution, Article VIII, Section 1(a) which states that “public funds, property, or credit shall only be used for public purposes.” The Illinois Supreme Court has already stated constitutional violations can be used as a predicate for official misconduct (see the former Mayor of Pekin, Illinois’ case).

More on Champaign County spending coming soon.

 

 

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3 Comments
  • Chad Coit
    Posted at 13:41h, 25 February

    Keep Digging Champaign County holds Mahomet Township if you want to find issues you will find many

  • Greg G
    Posted at 12:21h, 28 February

    I’m sure this was just a mistake, His personal CC probably looks just like the County’s

    Come on Julia Reitz give him some first offender probation like you do every one else in Champaign County.
    No Restitution required.

  • Wayne Ouilliamz
    Posted at 21:56h, 02 March

    What a big nothing burger. Pftt!

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