Comptroller Withholds Money From Dolton Over Missing Financial Reports

DOLTON, IL — The Illinois comptroller is suspending offset funds from the village of Dolton after embattled Mayor Tiffany Henyard and her administration for two years refused to turn over required financial reports and audits to the state, according to the comptroller’s office.

“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 Susana Mendoza said in a news release.

“Dolton is different. 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.”

The announcement Thursday came in the wake of a preliminary report by former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot that uncovered questionable expenses under Henyard after the village went from a multimillion-dollar surplus to millions in debt in just two years, WLS reported.

Village trustees are demanding Dolton's finance department comply with Mendoza, but an attorney for Henyard disputed to WLS the idea that the mayor is refusing compliance.

"She has never refused to comply with the Comptroller,” the attorney told the outlet in a statement. “She is simply trying to compel the accountant to comply."

Village Clerk Allison Key told Mendoza’s office in an email that Village Administrator Keith Freeman illegally removed Key from her role as Freedom of Information Act officer without Dolton trustees’ knowledge or approval, according to the news release.

If Dolton continues to fail to file reports, Mendoza’s office will impose audits and fines of up to $78,600 for the village as of last week, the news release said.

The offset funds being withheld include money from state payments to residents such as tax refunds and lottery winnings withheld from people to compensate for their unpaid traffic tickets, parking fines and other judgments, according to the news release. Last year Dolton received $120,000 in such payments and this year it was on track to get about $135,000, the news release said.