By: Diane Benjamin

I was contacted this morning by a reader who couldn’t find Lexington financial data and TIF reports on the Comptroller’s website.

Local data is difficult to find, it’s even harder when this message appears:

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No reports for THREE years?

There is a phone number right on the Comptroller’s website: 800-877-8078.

Turns out that number is Springfield, local data is handled through the Chicago office. I asked if she had that phone number, she gave me 855-881-2301.

That number concerns state debt collections, so that guy gave me another number after some searching: 312-814-2451.

It was fun listening to messages in Spanish too. I wonder why this office discriminates against every other language?

That number actually worked. I was able to connect directly to a lady in the local data division. She confirmed Lexington hadn’t submitted the REQUIRED reports.

Evidently the Comptroller’s office isn’t serious about long past due reports. She claims they are working with them.

City of Lexington website: https://www.lexingtonil.gov/

Evidently Lexington officials don’t think audited financial statements and TIF reports should be available to the people paying the bills. Why would your government not want you to know?

Anyone smell something putried?

It looks like the July meeting was canceled. Citizens need to show up in August are contact your elected officials. They are all on the website.

Any idea what the State would do to you if you failed to file tax returns?