The Illinois state comptroller took the extraordinary step of withholding some funds from the troubled village of Dolton on Thursday, blaming scandal-scarred Tiffany Henyard for the first-of-its-kind action — as the self-proclaimed “Super Mayor” told cops to follow orders from her disgraced department ally who was placed on leave after being indicted.
State Comptroller Susana Mendoza said she would immediately suspend all “offset” monies typically doled out to municipalities because Dolton leader Henyard “refuses” to turn over financial reports to the state.
The village was on track to gain $135,000 this year — but instead could start facing fines if the problems drag on. If the issues are fixed, the comptroller will restart the payments.
Mendoza said while her office tries to assist municipalities that struggle to file required annual reports, “Dolton is different.”
“The Mayor’s office has refused to communicate with us or address the problem,” she said in a statement. “If Mayor Henyard refuses to follow state law, my office will use the tools at our disposal to safeguard the interests of Dolton’s citizens.”
The village did not send reports to the comptroller’s office in 2022 and 2023, the comptroller said.
The state collects the “offset” funds when it withholds part of a resident’s income tax return or lotto winnings if they don’t pay a parking or speeding ticket at the local level, according to a comptroller spokesperson.
Those funds are then distributed back to the municipality, according to the office.
The state agency made clear it would not give Dolton — which is already facing financial hardship — the money until it gets into compliance with its financial records.
But the village could face fines totaling $78,600 over the delinquent paperwork if municipal officials don’t release the records, the comptroller’s office said.
Henyard, who was elected in 2021, has faced mounting allegations of maleficence in office, including misuse of taxpayer funds. Federal investigators reportedly subpoenaed financial information and documents tied to her and the village earlier this year as part of a probe.
‘Silly games’
Henyard’s ally in the police department, Deputy Chief Lewis Lacey, was federally indicted on bankruptcy fraud and other charges on Monday, though the criminal case is not connected to the village.
He was placed on administrative leave last week by trustees opposed to Henyard before the indictment, but a lawyer for the trustees reportedly said he’s still going to work.
The confusion over his job status persisted into this week.
Henyard ordered police officers to continue following orders from Lacey on Thursday, according to video obtained by WGN.
“Stop playing these silly games,” Henyard is heard saying.
Lacey also issued a warning that cops better fall in line, according to the station.
“Do what you want; but anything after this is insubordination,” he said.
But Village Administrator Keith Freeman told officers in an email Lacey was no longer employed by the village.
“Mr. Lacey is not allowed in any spaces reserved for employees with an escort,” he said, according to WGN.
Just last week, former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot revealed the village’s coffers were in shambles under Henyard leadership while outlining high spending, including $43,000 in one day on Amazon.
The pulled funds come as a local CBS report claims Henyard is nowhere to be found this week, but a trustee told The Post Thursday that wasn’t the case.
“She is not MIA, I think [the] news has been stating that. She is on social media and was at a meeting today, but has little comments about [the] report,” trustee Kiana Belcher said in reference to the Lightfoot report.
The comptroller’s office also cited an undated email from a Dolton village clerk that claims Freeman doesn’t allow department heads to relay information to the clerk’s office when the public seeks records and documents from the village.
Freeman was federally charged earlier this year with bankruptcy fraud that also is not tied to village business. While Henyard said this month he was fired, trustees opposed to her have said she doesn’t have the sole power to make that personnel move.
Freeman used to be an ally of Henyard before the two had a falling out, WGN reported.
