County Auditor Penny Wegman received the Illinois Association of County Auditors’ 2025 County Auditor of the Year award at the Finance and Budget Committee meeting Dec. 23, when Stephanie Jo Thompson (LaSalle County auditor and association secretary) presented the honor and cited Wegman’s modernization work, including an updated online checkbook and intern program.

Wegman then presented the auditor's claims paid for November — $15,000,527.90 — and asked the committee for approval. "All the information about that is in the packet," Wegman said; the committee approved the claims by roll call after Juvy moved and Surges seconded.

Wegman asked the committee to approve a small number of personal expense vouchers that exceeded the county’s 60‑day reimbursement window (total $1,270.85). She and staff said adding explicit policy language will allow the auditor’s office to recommend payment and to work with payroll to withhold taxes rather than repeatedly bringing late vouchers to the board. "By adding this verbiage, it now is addressing something that is over 60 days and will allow us to pay that, recommend for payment, to that employee," Wegman said.

Why it matters: The award underscores the auditor's office's efforts to modernize reporting and increase transparency. Approving late reimbursements and clarifying policy reduces repeated board votes and speeds employee payment, but committee members flagged tax implications and asked staff to send the travel purpose and evaluation form to the board for clarity.

What comes next: The committee approved the claims and the late‑voucher processing change; staff will circulate the travel‑purpose/evaluation form and correct any scrivener's errors in exhibits before the items advance to the executive committee.