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Await ruling over jurisdictionin auditing of Will county PICBy FRANKLIN SHUFTANA snag has developed in the proposed state audit of the troubled Will county Private Industry council(PIC).A decision on whether the state auditor general has jurisdiction to review the financial records of the agency is expected soon.Douglas Kane, deputy auditor general, said the office’s counsel will issue an opinion on whether an audit of PIC can proceed as ordered by the state Senate.THAT OPINION could be released today or tomorrow, Kane said.A question of whether the nonpartisan Auditor General’s office could audit PIC emerged following state Senate approval of a resolution De-. cember 5.The resolution was offered by outgoing state Sen. George Sangmeister (D-Mokena), who cited growing concerns about the manner in which the agency has operated.Kane did not say whether reviewof the audit request was undertaken in response to an official protest.PIC is a quasi-governmental agency funded through the U. S. Department of Labor.MONIES ARE directed to the state Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (DCCA), which then transfers to the funds to Will county and finally, to PIC. DCCA annually audits the agency, according to officials.PIC administers about $5 million in operating job training, weatheri-zation and heating assistance programs.It is governed by a 31-person board whose members are selected by John Annerino, Will county board chairman.But, according to Kane, the Auditor General’s office is researching whether PIC is actually a not-for-profit entity that lies beyond its statutory authority.“In some states, the auditor general has broad jurisdiction that encompasses all units of local government and subsidiary agencies,” Kane said. “Here, the auditor general is somewhat restricted.”SANGMEISTER SAID Tuesday he would wait until the Auditor General’s office reaches a final decision on whether it will proceed before he makes any comment.PIC became the center of controversy during recent general election campaigns for Congress and the state legislature in Will county with discovery the agency is paying $106,000 per year to lease space in a building that had been purchased a year ago for $85,000.Exact ownership of the building remains hidden in a real estate trust, though Joliet Mayor John Bourg said during campaign the trust’s beneficiary is John Bays, a Joliet auto dealer with close ties to Will county Republican leaders.Reports also had Will county Coroner Robert Tezak, a top GOP official,(Please turn to Page A-2)
Newspaper Details
Orland Park Star
Orland Park, Illinois, US
Tue, Nov 18, 1986
Page 1
Full Page
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AZ, USA 30 Jan 2020
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