La Grange Misses Another Audit Deadline

LA GRANGE, IL – La Grange remains delinquent with its audit for the budget year that ended last April, according to the state comptroller's office.

The village is now five months late with the document.

Asked about the audit's status, Village Manager Jack Knight told Patch in an email Tuesday that it is scheduled to be presented at the March 23 Village Board meeting. He said it would be filed with the state once the board accepts it.

Three weeks ago, the comptroller's office said the village had been given a delinquency notice and was expected to become compliant by Feb. 28.

Under state law, a town gets 180 days to turn in an audit after a budget year ends, which was April 30 in La Grange.

That period ended in late October, but the state comptroller's office gave the village a 60-day extension, which ended Dec. 26. It's been 67 days since then.

Last month, Knight said the late audit was because of two personnel vacancies. The village's finance department has been shorthanded since last spring.

While a private firm performs an audit, it needs the cooperation of village staff.

In his February statement, Knight said the audit was scheduled to be completed by Feb. 28.

The delinquency is an unusual position for La Grange. For decades, the village has received annual budget awards from a trade group for government finance officials.

The late audit has gone unmentioned by officials during Village Board meetings.