Publications & Press

IGO Statement Regarding City’s Settlement With Allied Waste Transportation, Inc.

Today, the City of Chicago settled civil claims with Allied Waste Transportation Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Republic Services, Inc, related to Allied’s long-running violations of Minority and Woman-owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) provisions in Allied’s waste hauling contracts with the City. The IGO offered a statement on the settlement. It is  available via downloadable … [Read More...]

City Releases Open Chicago 2012 Budget Hearing Documents

During the City Council hearings on the City’s 2012 Budget in October and November 2011, City Departments submitted information to the City Council based on Aldermanic questions of the departments made prior to and during the hearings. The material includes each commissioner’s opening statement during the budget hearings and detailed information regarding departmental operations. Following … [Read More...]

IGO Releases Review of City Residency Waivers

The City of Chicago Office of Inspector General (IGO) released a report today on the City’s policy and process for issuing residency waivers for employees. For some years, the City has granted temporary waivers to the residency requirement for City employees. A recent IGO investigation prompted the IGO to review the waiver process, the City’s … [Read More...]

IGO Releases Downtown Affordable Housing Density Bonus Process Audit

The IGO performed an audit of processes related to the Downtown Affordable Housing Density Bonus. The purpose of the program is to increase the availability of affordable housing in Chicago through the provision of density bonuses that give developers additional square footage for development projects. In return, the developer provides a specified number of on-site … [Read More...]

Inspector General Joseph M. Ferguson’s Opening Statement to Chicago City Council

At the nearly two year mark of my term, the IGO continues to provide Chicago residents with an important service – guarding against waste, fraud, abuse, and inefficiency in City government. Over the past year, IGO audits and program reviews have identified more than $700,000 in lost or wasted City expenditures, operational inefficiencies that cost … [Read More...]

IGO Review of Mileage Use in the Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Bureau

Earlier this year, the IGO completed an investigation into mileage reimbursement claims in the Fire Prevention Bureau (FPB). In short, the IGO found that in 2009 – just a one-year snapshot of what many in the CFD volunteered has been a decades-long practice – 54 FPB inspectors and supervisors conservatively stole approximately $100,000 taxpayer dollars … [Read More...]

IGO Releases Third Quarter 2011 Report

On October 14, 2011, the City of Chicago Office of Inspector General (IGO) transmitted its third quarter report for 2011 to the City Council and City officials. The report provides a summary of IGO activity from July 1 through September 30, 2011. “The IGO remains committed to operating as transparently as possible,” said Inspector General … [Read More...]

IGO Review of TIF Public Benefits Clauses and Charitable Donations

The City of Chicago Office of Inspector General (IGO) today released a review of TIF Public Benefits Clauses and Charitable Donations. Private charitable entities are sometimes named as beneficiaries in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) redevelopment agreements (RDAs) through the inclusion of “public benefits” clauses. Public benefits clauses are terms in TIF RDAs (as well as … [Read More...]

2011 Budget Options – Printable Version

Focused on meeting its mandate of promoting efficiency and effectiveness in City government, the City of Chicago Office of Inspector General (IGO) today released its annual report of Budget Options for the City. The IGO’s Budget Options report for the 2012 budget provides a total of 44 separate, stand-alone options to cut spending. This year’s … [Read More...]

Former City Inspector Convicted of Taking Bribes to Help Obtain State Food Sanitation Certificates for More Than 500 Individuals.

A southwest suburban woman who was authorized by the Illinois Department of Public Health to teach food service sanitation classes and administer state certification exams was convicted of conspiracy to commit bribery for accepting at least $79,650 in return for fraudulently arranging to provide bogus certificates for at least 531 individuals. The defendant, Maryanne Koll, … [Read More...]