By Adam Poulisse
Staff writer
Posted Feb. 6, 2016 at 8:38 PM
ROCKFORD — Winnebago County's former purchasing director is accused of spending taxpayer money on personal vacations, gift cards, new cabinets and countertops, furniture, and other appliances for her home, according to a document obtained by the Register Star.
Sally Claassen, who resigned from the job in September, allegedly spent more than $60,000 on personal items, a draft of an insurance claim Winnebago County plans to file shows. The preliminary document was presented to County Board members Thursday during a public meeting of the Finance Committee, but county officials initially declined to provide a copy to the Register Star. The document was obtained today after a Freedom of Information Act request. The vendors were redacted from the document.
Claassen has not been charged with a crime. The insurance claim is based on an internal investigation by the county auditor's office and the finance department that alleges Claassen falsified invoices. County officials did not disclose how they determined documents were falsified. The findings were turned over to the FBI.
"At this point, this is a preliminary number the auditor and Finance Department came up with," County Administrator Steve Chapman said.
The claim shows that 14 credit card and check purchases from May 2014 to June 2015 total $60,427.77.
"We're going to file the claim at some point in time," Chapman said. "We (will) wait to see if there are any further items that should be included, then file the claim at that time."
The purchases are:
— Three resort vacations totaled $17,472.84, the priciest being $8,200 booked in May 2014. It was submitted as "gun targets" to the county, the insurance claim states. The other two vacations — $3,072.84 booked in June 2014 and $6,200 booked in March 2015 — were submitted as building repairs and maintenance and Dura Panel, respectively.
— Kitchen appliances purchased in February 2015 total $5,379.87. The purchases were submitted to the county as "miscellaneous."
— Cabinets and countertops for Claassen's home purchased on Jan. 29, 2015 totaled $11,992. The purchases were submitted as cabinets and countertops for county buildings.
— Patio furniture for the Claassen residence — originally submitted as replacement parts for the county — was purchased in May and June 2015 for $3,816.14.
— Other purchasing discrepancies, which total $21,766.92, alleged that Claassen bought gift certificates, grills, furniture and "swimming pool vacuum, etc."
Claassen led the county's purchasing department from 1997 until she resigned in September amid an internal investigation. She is represented by Rockford attorney Chuck Prorok.
"Ms. Claassen is fully cooperating with the FBI and their investigation," he said today, declining further comment.
Claassen, in her employment separation agreement with the county, agreed to have her unpaid vacation and compensatory time held in escrow in an attempt by the county to recoup its losses. The separation agreement was also obtained through FOIA. There is $31,000 in escrow in the county treasurer's office that will offset whatever the final amount is, according to Winnebago County Board Chairman Scott Christiansen. The variance will then be filed through an insurance claim.
Page 2 of 2 - "That's always been our attempt — to get restitution and make those accountable, accountable," Christiansen said.A memo distributed to the public at Thursday's Finance Committee meeting says Auditor Bill Crowley and Finance Director Bryan Cutler audited five years of transactions associated with Claassen. The findings were turned over to the FBI.The auditor and finance offices also reviewed 2015 spending of the 1 percent public safety sales tax fund, searching specifically for transactions "charged incorrectly" by Claassen.Sikich LLP, an outside auditor based in Rockford, is in the process of performing additional tests of the county's checks and balances on spending.County Board and committee members have voiced their concerns over the investigation."As a County Board member, seeing these things happen is disheartening whichever way you cut it," said John F. Sweeney, R-16, caucus leader and Finance Committee member. "I believe this County Board has done a really good job controlling overall county costs and keeping the levy low. When things like this happen, there is a policy in place to catch it."County Board member and Operations and Administrative Committee Chairman Gary Jury, R-7, said he is "dumbfounded" by the investigation."I'm really shocked this would have even happened to the person they're looking into," he said.Jury said a different way of auditing is necessary, including more frequent and surprise audits, and making sure policy is followed.The Purchasing and Policy Committee was established in October to formulate possible changes to the purchasing policies. The first meeting is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 15.Adam Poulisse: 815-987-1344; apoulisse@rrstar.com; @adampoulisse
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