Kane hotline invites tips about fraud, waste
By Matt Brennan For The Beacon-News June 18, 2012 2:24PM
Bill Keck
Kane County Audit Hotline: 630-23-AUDIT (630-232-8348)
Updated: July 22, 2012 7:35PM
Those who see fraud, waste and abuse within the Kane County government now have a number to call to report it.
County Auditor Bill Keck has created an Audit Hotline as a way for citizens, vendors and employees to report fraudulent, wasteful or abusive financial practices. The number is 630-23-AUDIT (630-232-8348).
“This will give the people out there in Kane County the chance to disclose something that is improper,” he said.
After talking with other county auditors around the state, Keck decided to model the audit hotline after one in DuPage County.
“They’ve had a certain amount of success,” he said.
There was no incident that spawned the hotline idea, Keck said. The auditor’s office wants to be proactive in preventing any long term environment of corruption from developing, Keck said.
He hopes the hotline would work to prevent situations similar to the case in Dixon, in Lee County, where a longtime comptroller has been accused of embezzling $30 million since 2006.
Keck said the timing of the hotline is not related to a recent attempt to redraft Kane County’s ethics ordinance.
If there were an ethics-related call, it might have to referred to other authorities, he said.
Keck gave several examples of activities that could be reported: misuse of county equipment or property; theft of county resources; payroll and expense claim fraud; wasteful or inappropriate purchases; or embezzlement.
The caller ID has been removed from the hotline, so calls can be kept anonymous, Keck said. It is helpful if people do give some identifying information, however, in case there is a need for follow-up, he said.
