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Reallocate Local Income Tax (LIT) Townships generally receive a share of local income tax, and the revenue is budgeted in one or more funds.  However, the Trustee is not bound by that part of the budget.  LIT revenue can be redirected during the year.  It is ideal, but not required, to obtain a Board resolution.  The Trustee has the authority to make the reallocations.  Suppose, for example, one half of your township’s LIT is budgeted in your Township Assistance Fund, one half in the Fire Protection Fund.  The Trustee can redirect some of the LIT so that only one quarter is deposited into the Fire Protection Fund and three-quarters into the Township Assistance Fund. (What to watch out for:  the […]

It seems every few months we read about a government clerk who has siphoned off thousands of dollars. We shake our heads and ask ourselves how could that be allowed to happen, but, be honest, how do you know it is not happening right now in your own unit of government? You may answer that you know and trust your people. But the people you read about were also trusted employees until they were caught. Sadly, trust is not an accounting control. Sometimes the auditors make these discoveries, but not often. A smart crook will always leave behind convincing documents for audit purposes. Usually, when a person is caught, it is a result of an anonymous tip, a mistake on […]

There are two kinds of ghost employees – do you know which kind is more dangerous? The kind of ghost employee that gets the most publicity is the least dangerous. We have all heard of the occasional government official who puts a friend or relative on the payroll, but does not expect that person to show up and work. Obviously that is unethical and probably illegal. But it is not a danger to you, as a public official, because you already know about it. If you are doing it, you know you are doing it. Granted, you may not be aware a trusted employee may be doing some personal or political work while he is on government time. Technically, that […]

“How do I know I can trust all these people?” A newly-elected official once asked us that question. He inherited a staff from his electoral opponent, the former office holder. He wanted continuity of operations, so he did not want to fire everyone. He knew, these people from his time on the fiscal body. Basically, he trusted them, but he did not hire them. He did not want any of them to get him into trouble. Here was our advice: Even if you think you know people, you don’t. Besides, public office is a public trust. Your job is not simply to trust people you know, but to put in place sound security systems to safeguard public assets. Think back […]

Like Halley’s Comet, the calendar is cranking around to another odd year in which an extra payroll may be due. That could cause a budget disaster for units that are unprepared. If you are one of the type of persons that feel you can’t do it by yourself you can get help and advise from an attorney, a great law firm is Attorney Coalition DC, it has great attorneys that work with you in every step of the way and in any type of case. Most units pay employees every two weeks. In most years, that means the budget includes 26 paydays. From year-to-year, the only budget concern is whether to offer a raise and whether to add or eliminate […]