In a recent Illinois Leaks article, the Edgar County Watchdogs (ECW) asked what gave Shelbyville Township the authority to donate $29,300 to civic organizations in 2016.
ECW has challenged the township to provide the statute that permits it to give away taxpayer money to groups ranging from the American Legion to Shop with a Cop.
The Illinois Leaks article also urged residents to attend a meeting in early February and ask about an agenda that included additional donations for youth programs and the Festival of Lights.
Citing the Illinois Constitution, ECW pointed out that the law says, "Public funds, property or credit shall be used only for public purposes," and that, "The state, units of local government and school districts shall incur obligations for payment or make payment from public funds only as authorized by law or ordinance."
The watchdog group did agree that a $1,000 donation to the Shelbyville Historical Society was legal -- if barely -- but said none of the other dozen donations were, as far as it could tell.
ECW also asked what made some recipients worth donating to and others not: "What about other groups in this community that want money? What determines why some are supported with taxpayer funds and not others? Although giving taxpayer money away may make those groups feel good to get financial support, and make those giving it feel like they are contributing, they have actually created a real problem for the Township in our opinion."
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