Excerpts from ChicagoTribune.com:
Harvey is facing a major crisis as Mayor Eric Kellogg threatens to lay off half of the town’s police force and other essential workers, escalating a political conflict that has exposed long-standing issues of corruption, financial instability, and lack of transparency in a city with a history of high crime. The mayor's administration has informed union leaders that layoffs are imminent for employees in the police, fire, public works, and water departments.
For months, Kellogg has been at odds with a majority of the City Council, which demands greater accountability. The Tribune has revealed that the town has lost millions in taxpayer funds due to insider deals, including one that is still under investigation by the FBI. The council members argue that without proper oversight, they cannot ensure that public money is used responsibly.
Under state law, Harvey must pass an ordinance by December 29 to determine how much property tax the county clerk should collect. This tax is crucial for the town’s budget. If no such ordinance is passed, the town could lose most of its funding, putting it on the brink of financial collapse.
Four of the six council members have refused to approve any financial measures, including the tax levy, until the mayor agrees to establish oversight committees that were approved earlier this year. They claim these committees are necessary to monitor spending and prevent misuse of taxpayer money. If that means blocking the tax levy, they are willing to do so.
“It’s not the city’s money—it’s the taxpayers’ money,†said Alderman Christopher Clark, one of the four council members. “We represent the people. Passing the levy and giving the money to the mayor’s administration without knowing how it will be spent, especially after years of questionable spending, would be irresponsible.â€
Kellogg, however, accuses the four council members of playing political games and pushing the town toward financial ruin. His spokesman, Sean Howard, stated that the mayor supports the tax levy and wants to avoid layoffs. He claims the responsibility lies with the council members who are blocking progress.
The two sides met behind closed doors but failed to reach an agreement on the committee structure. The council then voted down the tax levy ordinance. On Friday, Alderman Donald Nesbit revealed that the council had offered a compromise: splitting the leadership of key committees between supporters and critics of the mayor. However, the deal was rejected.
Clark and his allies believe they have legal authority to control the committees, but Kellogg refuses to allow them to function. Now, they say, the mayor is pressuring them to vote on a $15 million tax levy without prior review.
This ongoing battle has seen council opponents send letters to federal and state agencies, urging investigations into alleged misconduct by the mayor’s administration. A lawsuit is also pending, claiming that the mayor and clerk have unlawfully limited the council’s power to challenge questionable spending in a town with little financial transparency.
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