Budget Woes

That unpaid balance owed to the City in fines and fees keeps getting larger:

• Chicago residents, businesses, and city employees altogether owe the city more than $8.1 billion in overdue debt, some of it dating back to the 1990s, according to a report from the city's inspector general.

  Inspector General Deborah Witzburg's report notes the bigger problem is that amount is most likely even larger, but the city can't properly account for all of the money it is owed.

  The report revealed antiquated systems and policies dating back decades that prevent the city's Department of Finance from tracking and collecting all of the money owed.

As we said a short time ago, Officers are regularly the subject of internal investigations when their name appears on any debt record, starting with a SPAR, upgraded to a CR, culminating with wage garnishment and suspension should it not be paid.

Why this isn't a regular thing with other city departments, we don't know. 

Why it isn't rigorously enforced on assorted companies, contractors or other government entities is a mystery as they're ripping off not just Chicago, but all Chicagoans who end up paying higher taxes to cover the constant shortfalls - $8 billion and counting.

Start cutting off services. Then go to Springfield and change the State Law about how much you can garnish. Make it painful to not pay bills. Illinois is a one-party state constantly abusing its power....why not now?