In a startling revelation, former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has been brought on board by the trustees of Dalton, Illinois, to investigate the town’s financial health.
Residents were left reeling after Lightfoot presented her findings regarding alleged financial misconduct by Mayor Tiffany Henyard during a recent meeting.
The investigation, which aimed to shed light on serious accusations of fund mismanagement, has raised eyebrows and stirred concerns among the community.
Lightfoot’s assessment revealed that the village’s general fund balance was a healthy $5.61 million in April 2022.
However, the situation has dramatically shifted since then.
During her presentation, Lightfoot expressed frustration over the lack of cooperation from Henyard and her administration, stating, “This has been a challenging investigation, to say the least.”
Despite these hurdles, she felt they had made significant progress in uncovering the troubling financial situation.
The fiscal year for the village runs from May 1 to April 30, meaning that the financial data spans two different years.
Under state law, certain financial reports must be submitted annually to the state comptroller.
Alarmingly, Lightfoot noted that Dalton has failed to comply with these requirements since the fiscal year 2021.
There have been no annual financial reports or audited statements available since that time, leaving residents in the dark about their village’s financial standing.
According to Lightfoot, the absence of these critical documents means that the data provided lacks thorough auditing by a certified public accountant.
She mentioned that the village has historically struggled with maintaining a full-time financial staff, which has exacerbated the current crisis.
The roles of city treasurer and finance director have been vacant for extended periods, leading to significant gaps in oversight and accountability.
As of May 30, the village’s general fund finds itself in a troubling deficit position, indicating that it lacks sufficient resources to cover day-to-day operations, including payroll and vendor payments.
While the special revenue and debt service funds are doing better financially, their restricted nature means they cannot be used to alleviate the general fund’s woes.
This limitation is a key factor contributing to the town’s ongoing financial struggles.
The stark contrast between Dalton’s financial health in April 2022 and May 2024 is alarming.
Lightfoot illustrated this with a graphic showing a $9 million swing, moving from a surplus to a deficit in just two years.
Trustee Kiana Belcher, who joined Lightfoot at the meeting, expressed her dismay at the revelations, describing the situation as “gut punching” and “sickening.”
Trustee Belcher also shared her frustrations regarding the lack of transparency from Henyard, noting that the trustees have repeatedly sought information but have been locked out of the village hall.
She emphasized that the community had a sense of impending financial trouble, but the scale of the deficit was shocking to many.
The meeting held at the Dalton Park District was crucial, especially since Henyard controls the main council meetings, making it difficult for trustees to conduct business.
As the discussion unfolded, the gravity of the situation became clear.
Belcher pointed out that despite being recalled in 2022, Henyard still holds her position until her term ends in February 2025, due to legal technicalities surrounding the recall process.
Henyard has yet to respond to the findings presented by Lightfoot, which raises further questions about her leadership and accountability.
Belcher remarked on the irony of Henyard attending council meetings accompanied by federal criminal attorneys, suggesting that if there were no wrongdoings, such representation would be unnecessary.
Looking ahead, the investigation led by Lightfoot is still ongoing.
Additional findings will be submitted to higher authorities to determine if any criminal charges can be pursued.
The community remains on edge as they await further developments, hoping for transparency and accountability in their local government.
As the story unfolds, it highlights broader themes of governance, trust, and the importance of community oversight.
Residents of Dalton are left grappling with the implications of these findings, eager for answers and solutions to restore their village’s financial stability.
