More Details On La Grange's Delinquent Audit

LA GRANGE, IL – La Grange officials met for 2½ hours on Saturday to discuss the budget for the fiscal year starting in May.

But they did so without an audit for the fiscal year that ended more than 10 months ago. The village has missed state deadlines, although officials have not mentioned the lateness during meetings.

During Saturday's Village Board meeting, Annmarie Mampe, the village's financial consultant, said La Grange received the draft audit Friday from the third-party auditing firm. The audit is set to be presented at the board's March 23 meeting.

At some point after that, the village will give the audit to the state comptroller's office, nearly 11 months after the budget year ended. The office now lists La Grange as delinquent.

Mampe told trustees Saturday that they may have to change numbers in the budget proposed for next year, based on the new audit.

Last week, La Grange resident Jonathan Robinson obtained the village's emails to the comptroller's office through a public records request.

On Dec. 29, the comptroller's office warned La Grange that the village was considered delinquent and may be subject to fines.

Village Manager Jack Knight responded that the audit was underway and that it was expected to be finished by the end of February.

Emailing back, Isabella Belczak with the comptroller's office warned that the village had been accruing fines since Dec. 26 for each delinquent report owed.

Last Tuesday, Knight told the comptroller's office that the village's auditors have been working diligently to get the work done.

A month ago, Knight said the late audit was because of two personnel vacancies. The village's finance department has been shorthanded since last spring.

While a private firm performs an audit, it needs the cooperation of village staff.

The delinquency is an unusual position for La Grange. For decades, the village has received annual budget awards from a trade group for government finance officials.