No extra funds for Cal Township Assessor’s office

The Calumet Township Assessor’s office won’t be getting a new appropriation of about $80,000 from the Lake County Council Tuesday that was requested to pay for contracts entered into outside of its authorized budget, officials said.

During the council’s Thursday workshop, members indicated they could not support the request for the funds for professional services requested in the budget presented by the assessor’s office because they specifically reduced that line item during the budget process for 2024.

Council Vice President David Hamm, D-Hammond, who chairs the assessor’s committee, said the office signed contracts with vendors for which there was no money and he would not be advancing the request to provide the funds.

Sondra Ford, chief deputy assessor, appeared to not understand that money was not available despite the fact the council did not fund the request in the approved 2024 budget.

“The contracts were approved by commissioners, but our budget was cut,” Ford said.

At the time the contracts were signed, Ford said the office did not know the budget would be cut. Hamm asked what would happen to the county’s finances if the other township assessors also went out and entered into contracts outside of their budget and then came to the council for approval.

Council President Christine Cid, D-East Chicago, said it is important for department heads to know they must have the appropriation before they go to the commissioners to get a contract signed. Hamm added commissioners probably signed the contract with the understanding the office would wait until the money was made available.

Commission President Mike Repay, D-Hammond, who was at the council workshop, confirmed a contract is void without an appropriation.

Scott Schmal, the council’s financial director, said it is common that departments don’t understand the budget process. Just because a department is requesting money, does not mean the request will be approved.

“Your request was a significant increase in that particular line item,” Schmal said. The increase was more than 500% over the prior year’s amount, he said, and the council was deliberate in cutting that line item during the budget process.

“Your budget wasn’t cut this year. It is higher than it was last year,” Schmal said. “This specific line item was deliberately increased in the (budget) request. It also consciously was not approved.”

This month, Hamm said the council was trying to get appropriations from the general fund to a minimum until the auditor’s office has officially finalized the county’s cash balances for filing with the state.

The Calumet Township Assessor’s office currently is in flux following the Jan. 23 death of Cozey Weatherspoon, who was just starting his second year in the seat.

“We have a new Calumet Township Assessor coming,” Hamm said.

Since he does not know who the new assessor will be, any decision should wait until after the person is seated. The council also will be reorganizing its committees Tuesday, and Councilman Ted Bilski, D-Hobart, likely will the new chair.

“We need to at least kick it down the road for a month, find out who the committee chair is, and who the new Calumet Township Assessor is,” Hamm said.

cnapoleon@chicagotribune.com