Cook County made $6.7 million in unapproved payments in August, County Board Finance Committee Chairman John Daley revealed today.
County Chief Financial Officer Jaye Williams said at today’s board meeting that the Comptroller’s office alerted her Friday that a total of 25 checks, from August 19th and 26th, were issued to vendors without the required board authorization.
“This occurrence represents a violation of Cook County ordinance,” Williams wrote in a memo to the board.
Williams said she immediately contacted county officials and Laura Burman, the internal auditor of Cook County, and Deputy State’s Attorney Patrick Driscoll. The Office of the Independent Inspector General on Monday interviewed several members of the Accounts Payable Department, according to the letter.
“Although this is an ongoing investigation, we have taken the following steps to insure we completely understand and remedy the cause of the violation and protect the resources of the County,” Williams wrote. “Immediate removal of employee(s) actively engaged in the process of authorizing release of payment.”
Williams said that there have been “a number” of breaches in the last year.
Williams declined to comment following the meeting. Daley said in an interview that he believes one employee has been fired.
County Comptroller Constance Kravitz and Deputy Chief Financial Officer Brendan Beggin will assume direct management of the Accounts Payable Department, according to the letter. An independent firm will also conduct a review of the department’s business processes.
Today the board approved the payments that had already been paid.