Report: Tolls Illegally Went Toward Balancing State Budget For 3 Years
DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. (CBS) -- A story out Friday morning is sure to cause grumbling among those who use the Illinois Tollway system.
As WBBM Newsradio's Bernie Tafoya reports, commuters are told that all the money they pay for tolls is going toward upkeep of the tollway system. But the Illinois Toll Highway Authority inspector general found something different.
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Inspector General James Wagner has found that back when the imprisoned Rod Blagojevich was governor, some $32.6 million in tolls were taken by the State of Illinois to balance its budget, according to a Chicago Tribune report.
The move was illegal, but the Illinois General Assembly approved it anyway, the Tribune reported.
The toll diversions happened from 2003 until 2006, the Tribune reported.
Current tollway executive director Kristi LaFleur says no such abuses will happen under her watch.
Meanwhile, Wagner has cracked down on tollway workers who steal from the system. Eight employees resigned or were fired for stealing toll money.
More than $32,000 of the money has been returned, and some of the workers might face criminal charges.
One tollway employee alone reportedly collected $39,000 in overtime pay. Lisa Williams, who is the Toll Highway Authority's equal opportunity, disabilities, affirmative action and ethics officer, the Tribune reported. The overtime bumped up her $76,000 salary to $115,000, the newspaper reported.
LaFleur told the Tribune that Williams does the work of two people, and puts in 60- and 70-hour work weeks.
