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State’s top auditor calls for
investigation of Dem.
Committeeman’s chief
education pick
BY SEAN JENKINS
June 18, 2009
Regional Education Superintendent, Charles Flowers, scores an F with Illinois
General Auditor for friends and family patronage and wasteful spending.
Charles Flowers’, Cook County Regional Superintendent spending spree
reported in the West Suburban Journal May 20 has the full attention of the state’
s top auditor.
Flowers whose repeated use of government credit cards for personal expenses
including food and travel and approved “questionable payments to relative on
his payroll” is the center of a criminal probe by the state.
William Holland, Illinois, Auditor General released a 78 page report Thursday to
the WSJ based on an investigation into Flowers’ state-funded office, which has
accumulated a nearly $1 million deficit.
Holland is a constitutional officer of the State of Illinois charged with reviewing the
obligation, expenditure, receipt and use of public funds. The office issues
approximately 150 post-audits of State agencies each year, reviewing an
agency's financial records, compliance with State and federal laws and
regulations, and program performance after the close of its fiscal year.
Holland’s findings in part include a $6,000 cash advance from Flowers to
Barbara Flowers, Flowers’ sister and administrative assistant. Flowers’ nephew,
who is also on his payroll, was reimbursed for lunch breaks, the audit found.
The deficit that has amassed under Flowers compelled Holland to conclude the
office may not be able to repay a $190,000 loan from Cook County that Flowers
negotiated last year with County Board President Todd Stroger’s assistance.
The loan matures this month, according to Holland’s report.
The Times also reported that two high-level executives of Flowers, one of whom
is a family member, making more than $80,000 a year were rewarded with
consulting gigs of $9,400 and $12,000 to monitor state grants on company time.
Flowers’ credit card purchases by break down totaled 40 with 16 purchases for
personal expenses. Flowers used the regional credit card to eat out as many as
four times a day in one week. His favorite trendy spot was The Club House in
Oak Brook. On December 21, 2007, Flowers spent $863 on dining, Holland’s
report shows. He charged more than $430 at Wildfire in January of this
year$133 at Maggiano’s, $268 at Papadeaux Sea Food Kitchen and $89 at Bar
Louie to his regional office credit card.
Of the 40 purchases also were vacation and airline tickets for Flowers’ family
members to Mississippi, according to Holland. Flowers also withdrew more than
$6,000 in cash with in Illinois and Mississippi, to purchase a vehicle and furniture
for the Regional Office. However, Holland’s investigation turned up no such
items.
In addition to satisfying his palate at the tax payer’s expense, Flowers treated
himself to limousine rides, plenty of purchases at the gas pump, theater district
season pass and hotel and rental cars.
Flowers began his tenure with a credit card capped at $5,000. The limit was
raised to $10,000 and most recently $20,000, according to Holland’s report.
Holland referred his finding to Attorney General, Lisa Madigan and Cook County
State’s Attorney Anita Alverez. “This is a very bad audit, I can’t emphasize that
enough,” said Holland according to the Times.
Flowers’ a former board member of District 209, was placed on the Democrat
ticket by Proviso Township Democrat Committeeman Karen Yarbrough and
elected to office in 2006. When placed on the election ballot by Yarbrough in
2006 Flowers was facing personal financial tax troubles.
Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin said he intends to ask Alvarez’s
office to collect funds they can find from Flowers’ office to guarantee repayment
of the $190,000 County loan, according to the Times report.
Karen Yarbrough did not return West Suburban Journal calls for comment.
investigation of Dem.
Committeeman’s chief
education pick
BY SEAN JENKINS
June 18, 2009
Regional Education Superintendent, Charles Flowers, scores an F with Illinois
General Auditor for friends and family patronage and wasteful spending.
Charles Flowers’, Cook County Regional Superintendent spending spree
reported in the West Suburban Journal May 20 has the full attention of the state’
s top auditor.
Flowers whose repeated use of government credit cards for personal expenses
including food and travel and approved “questionable payments to relative on
his payroll” is the center of a criminal probe by the state.
William Holland, Illinois, Auditor General released a 78 page report Thursday to
the WSJ based on an investigation into Flowers’ state-funded office, which has
accumulated a nearly $1 million deficit.
Holland is a constitutional officer of the State of Illinois charged with reviewing the
obligation, expenditure, receipt and use of public funds. The office issues
approximately 150 post-audits of State agencies each year, reviewing an
agency's financial records, compliance with State and federal laws and
regulations, and program performance after the close of its fiscal year.
Holland’s findings in part include a $6,000 cash advance from Flowers to
Barbara Flowers, Flowers’ sister and administrative assistant. Flowers’ nephew,
who is also on his payroll, was reimbursed for lunch breaks, the audit found.
The deficit that has amassed under Flowers compelled Holland to conclude the
office may not be able to repay a $190,000 loan from Cook County that Flowers
negotiated last year with County Board President Todd Stroger’s assistance.
The loan matures this month, according to Holland’s report.
The Times also reported that two high-level executives of Flowers, one of whom
is a family member, making more than $80,000 a year were rewarded with
consulting gigs of $9,400 and $12,000 to monitor state grants on company time.
Flowers’ credit card purchases by break down totaled 40 with 16 purchases for
personal expenses. Flowers used the regional credit card to eat out as many as
four times a day in one week. His favorite trendy spot was The Club House in
Oak Brook. On December 21, 2007, Flowers spent $863 on dining, Holland’s
report shows. He charged more than $430 at Wildfire in January of this
year$133 at Maggiano’s, $268 at Papadeaux Sea Food Kitchen and $89 at Bar
Louie to his regional office credit card.
Of the 40 purchases also were vacation and airline tickets for Flowers’ family
members to Mississippi, according to Holland. Flowers also withdrew more than
$6,000 in cash with in Illinois and Mississippi, to purchase a vehicle and furniture
for the Regional Office. However, Holland’s investigation turned up no such
items.
In addition to satisfying his palate at the tax payer’s expense, Flowers treated
himself to limousine rides, plenty of purchases at the gas pump, theater district
season pass and hotel and rental cars.
Flowers began his tenure with a credit card capped at $5,000. The limit was
raised to $10,000 and most recently $20,000, according to Holland’s report.
Holland referred his finding to Attorney General, Lisa Madigan and Cook County
State’s Attorney Anita Alverez. “This is a very bad audit, I can’t emphasize that
enough,” said Holland according to the Times.
Flowers’ a former board member of District 209, was placed on the Democrat
ticket by Proviso Township Democrat Committeeman Karen Yarbrough and
elected to office in 2006. When placed on the election ballot by Yarbrough in
2006 Flowers was facing personal financial tax troubles.
Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin said he intends to ask Alvarez’s
office to collect funds they can find from Flowers’ office to guarantee repayment
of the $190,000 County loan, according to the Times report.
Karen Yarbrough did not return West Suburban Journal calls for comment.
Charles Flowers
Karen Yarbrough