By: Diane Benjamin
At the end of 2015 the Sewer Fund had $79,316.68. With another 8 years of residents paying $5 a month, what’s the balance now?
According to this 2015 story, there was a difference of $4,674.63 then between what I was told is in the fund and what the bank statement showed. https://blnnews.com/2015/08/15/stanford-games-with-your-money/
In 2016 the funds were transferred to an interest bearing account. Since nobody answers the phones or answers emails at Stanford City Hall I contacted the law firm that handles Stanford FOIA requests – McGrath.
Supposedly the bank account now has $143,230.91:
That means from 2016 to April of 2024 the fund increased $63,914.23 which includes interest.
According to the previous 2015 story, at least $14,000 a year should have been collected with the $5 per month.
$14,000 x 8 years = $112,000. That doesn’t include another 4 months of 2024.
I asked McGrath for a monthly deposit report, they sent a report that shows nothing but the interest earned:
McGrath also sent me a few bank statements. They only show a March 2024 deposit of $2,921.55, all other amounts are interest earned:
Where’s your money Stanford?
Looks to me like somewhere around $50,000 is missing. I asked McGrath for a summary like the one in the 2015 story. It’s not surprising they didn’t provide it.
This fund needs audited!
Small town money funnel (like most probably)
Good work with the uncovering and good direct questions.
Most small town exploit never get sunshine or real answers
City/ Town attorneys play a part I fear in hiding truths or funny budgeting
Who in Stanford has the ability to help themselves to $50,000.00 of tax payer money??
With a Village office that won’t answer the phone & a Village attorney that won’t answer questions. It sounds safe to say that $50,000. Of Sewer tax money Is more Village of Stanford Board controlled funds down the drain.
File police report with sheriff and ask them for a state police investigation
Might want to ask BLONO that same question! Water rate increases every year and nothing to show for it but empty promises! Filing a report with State of Illinois is useless the case will never be resolved.
Filing a county or state or federal complaint always seems to end up in no where land or runaround to meet their nonsense scripted “service levels” or crap Chatbot answers
Even elected politicians and officials are plating that game
Illinois is bad bout it all $$
Prosecutors that fail to do their job contribute to corruption