The Knox County Board last night directed State’s Attorney John Pepmeyer to file a lawsuit against the Illinois Comptroller and director of the Department of Revenue.
The suit is for the county to be reimbursed for the share the state owes for the salaries of the Supervisor of Assessment, State’s Attorney and Public Defender.
Board Chair Brian Friedrich reminded the board that St. Clair County had a similar lawsuit and recovered all unpaid funds.
“John (Pepmeyer) thought that maybe we’d automatically get our money after that but it’s not, so everybody has to sue separately to get their money,” Friedrich says. “So we’re going to have to sue separately to get our money.”
The Knox lawsuit mirrors the successful one mounted by St. Clair county.
Williamson, Franklin and as of last night Union counties have filed as well.
Friedrich said Pepmeyer, who suffered a minor heart attack last week, will be coming into sign the paperwork for the lawsuit today.
“Each individual county is going to have to do this to speed up the process. I mean we could still get it but it’s going to be down the road. This is going to speed it up a lot faster and make it quicker for us.”
According to Friedrich, Pepmeyer believes that the funds can be recovered quickly, although what quickly means is unclear.
By law the state pays about half of the three positions’ salaries but none of that money has been dispersed since the beginning of the budget impasse in Springfield that began July 1.
