Strange things are taking place in the small Illinois village of Dolton, on the outskirts of Chicago, as the town mayor continues to ignore state requests for financial reports and village trustees stand against her.
Dalton “Offsets” Suspended
Illinois Comptroller Susan Mendoza has announced her intention to suspend all “offset” funds for the Cook County town of Dolton, following two years of miscommunication and bizarre power struggles orchestrated by the town’s mayor.
Two Years of Failed Reports
The confirmation came last Thursday when Mendoza confirmed that Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard has repeatedly failed to submit annual financial reports and audits for the past two years, including Tax Increment Financing District (TIF) reports.
Comptroller News Release
“When municipalities around Illinois are having legitimate problems filing their annual reports with us, based on staffing or other issues, we earnestly work with them to get them into compliance,” Comptroller Mendoza announced in an official news release.
“Dolton is Different”
“Dolton is different,” she continued. “The Mayor’s office has refused to communicate with us or address the problem. If Mayor Henyard refuses to follow state law, my office will use the tools at our disposal to safeguard the interests of Dolton’s citizens.”
Purpose of Offset Funds
“Offset” funds refer to state payments that are kept by the Comptroller’s office, allowing the Comptroller to withhold the funds when an individual or municipality has failed to pay fines.
The Lightfoot Report
The announcement came shortly after former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot released a preliminary report into Henyard’s expenditures as Mayor of Dolton.
From Surplus to Deficit
Over the course of two years, the village moved from a several million-dollar budget surplus to millions of dollars in debt, according to the report.
Two-Year Changes
Lightfoot revealed that the village’s fund balance sat at $5.61 million as of April 2022, but had plummeted to a $3.65 million deficit by May 2024.
“Questionable” Expenses
Lightfoot has described the expenses, approved by Henyard, as “questionable.” In one case, Henyard’s office spent as much as $43,000 in a single day of online shopping via Amazon.
Failure to Be Transparent
Now, Mendoza has accused Henyard of failing to be transparent about the village’s financial situation, and of ignoring the Comptroller’s office’s repeated reminders of her report and audit delinquency.
$135,000 Suspended
The Comptroller’s office has officially suspended $135,000 in offset funds for the township. If the fines are not paid, Dalton could owe the state an additional $78,600 in fines.
Trustees Demand the Reports
Trustees in Dolton are in uproar over the recent announcements and demanding compliance from the town’s financial department. However, legal representatives for Henyard have denied that she is refusing to comply or ignoring state notices.
No Refusal to Comply
“She has never refused to comply with the Comptroller,” Henyard’s attorney told Chicago radio station WLS. “She is simply trying to compel the accountant to comply.”
Power Struggles in Dalton
In recent weeks it has become increasingly clear that there is a strange power struggle going on in Dalton, between the Mayor, her supporters, and her detractors.
Deputy Police Chief Indicted
Recently Dalton’s Deputy Chief of Police, Lewis Lacey, was federally indicted on unrelated charges of bankruptcy fraud. Despite being placed on administrative leave by village trustees, Henyard ordered police to ignore the decision.
“Stop Playing Silly Games”
Trustees now claim that Lacey has returned to work and a video shared by Chicago TV station WGN shows Henyard telling “insubordinate” police officers to “stop playing these silly games” and to continue reporting to Lacey.
Refusing FOIA Requests
Allison Key, the Village Clerk of Dalton, has also claimed that she was removed as Dalton’s Freedom of Information Act officer without approval from village trustees, and that department heads had been instructed “not to reply to any FOIA request.”
“Corruption and Hijinks”
“I’ve seen a lot of corruption and hijinks, and I’ve never seen anything like this,” Bob Odelson, an attorney representing Dalton village trustees, told WLS.
Only One Solution
Regardless of what has transpired between public officials in Dolton, one thing is clear – these essential funds will be withheld until Henyard fulfills her civic requirements.
Offsets Will be Withheld Until the Town Complies
“Until I see those reports properly filed the way, the law says they have to be, and until we see them show accountability for how they are spending taxpayer money, they will not see another penny of those offsets,” Mendoza said.
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