Orland Park latest suburb to fail to file audits

ORLAND PARK, Ill. — Illinois’ comptroller is threatening southwest suburban Orland Park with losing some state reimbursements for failing to file financial audits in 2022 and 2023.

“Reports not filed in a timely manner are delinquent, and consequently subject to fines and forced audit,” the comptroller’s September letter stated.

Village officials blame staff turnover, a new computer system and the village’s former external auditors for the missed deadlines.

“While we do not dispute the current status of delinquency, we would like to emphasize that the Village has made considerable progress under difficult circumstances,” read a response letter from Orland Park’s finance director to the state comptroller’s office.

The village said it’s on track to complete the 2022 audit later this month and 2023 audit by February.

Illinois’ local debt recovery program returns a little more than $100,000 yearly to Orland Park. Village officials point out that it represents less than one percent of Orland Park’s revenue, but they have asked the comptroller not to suspend the payments.

Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau said his critics are fanning the flames of the problem.

“This is simply another political attack with no factual basis… I have become accustomed to this since my election in 2017,” Pekau wrote in an email to WGN Investigates. “The Village Board and I have been transparent and committed to getting our audits in full compliance.”

Suburban financial reporting is in the spotlight following a yearlong WGN Investigates series on questionable spending and financial controls in Dolton under Mayor Tiffany Henyard’s leadership.

Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza’s office suspend ed some state reimbursements to Dolton after the village failed to file the required audits.

The comptroller’s office previously said roughly a half-a-dozen Chicago suburbs have failed to comply with required financial reporting.

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