Extracts from the Chicago Tribune:
Harvey, a city notorious for high crime rates and questionable financial dealings, is currently facing a severe crisis as Mayor Eric Kellogg considers laying off half of its workforce, including police officers, firefighters, and public works employees. This drastic move is part of a growing political conflict between the mayor's administration and a majority faction of the City Council. These council members argue that they need more transparency in how funds are allocated, pointing to years of mismanagement and insider deals that have cost Harvey millions in taxpayer dollars, some of which are still under FBI scrutiny.
Under Illinois state law, Harvey must pass an ordinance by December 29th that determines the amount of property taxes to be collected, which is crucial for the city's financial survival. Failure to pass this ordinance could result in a significant budget shortfall, according to Mayor Kellogg's administration. However, four of the six council members have united to block any financial measures, including the approval of the tax levy, until their demand for specific oversight committees is met. They argue that without these committees, they cannot guarantee that taxpayer money will be used appropriately, especially given past issues of questionable expenditures over the last decade.
"This is not just the city's money; it belongs to the taxpayers," said Alderman Christopher Clark, one of the four dissenting council members. "Approving the levy without proper oversight would be irresponsible. We need assurance that our constituents' funds won't be squandered."
Mayor Kellogg, however, claims that these council members are deliberately obstructing progress for political gain, putting the city's fiscal stability at risk. His spokesperson, Sean Howard, emphasized that these layoffs could cut the police force nearly in half, reducing the number of sworn officers from 72 to 36, and similarly impact the fire department. "The mayor supports the levy and doesn't wish to make these cuts," Howard stated. "But the responsibility lies with these four aldermen."
Despite recent closed-door meetings, no compromise was reached regarding the proposed committee structure. On Friday, the council voted against the levy proposal. In an attempt to find common ground, Alderman Donald Nesbit suggested splitting the leadership roles of the coveted Finance and Economic Development committees, proposing that one be led by a Kellogg supporter with two opposition members, while the other would be chaired by a critic of the mayor with two supporters.
However, Clark and his fellow council members maintain that they hold a legal ordinance granting them authority over these committees, yet Kellogg's administration has refused to honor this arrangement. Now, they allege that Kellogg is pushing for immediate approval of a $15 million tax levy without allowing them to review it through the established committees.
This ongoing feud has escalated to include formal requests for federal and state investigations into the mayor's administration, along with a pending lawsuit accusing the mayor and city clerk of undermining the council's authority to address concerns about financial transparency and questionable spending practices in Harvey.
Thanks, Dan!
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