Audit flags sheriff pay-card charges; public calls for forensic review of sheriff budget

The Kane County auditor and multiple public speakers raised concerns about the sheriff's budget and undocumented charges during the Finance & Budget Committee meeting on June 24.

Auditor Miss Wegman told the committee her office included a claims-paid exceptions report in the packet that flagged two transactions on the sheriff's pay card this month that lacked required sign-off and recommended rejecting those two payments. She said prior-month undocumented charges had been paid but that some items remained under review. "There has been a request by the board for the state's attorney to look into that," Wegman said; she said she would defer to the state's attorney for the status of any investigation.

Public commenter Brian Anderson urged the committee to "dig in" and requested a forensic audit to clarify "Where's the money?" He said the committee, which is responsible for the budget oversight of all 24 board members, should press for fuller accounting and transparency.

During new-business discussion the chair reiterated that the sheriff's budget questions were under investigation and that the committee would schedule a presentation by the sheriff's department once investigators had clarified discrepancies. The committee approved several routine resolutions during the meeting but took no immediate vote specifically on the sheriff's budget.

What happens next: the auditor's exceptions and the board's request to the state's attorney create a paper trail. The committee said staff and elected officials will follow up and present findings when investigations conclude.