Tiffany Henyard, the self-proclaimed “super mayor” of Illinois, drained large sums of cash from the coffers of her debt-ridden small town, burned thousands of dollars at an unapproved ice rink, and paid for regular parties and extravagant trips. and spent over millions of dollars in salaries for the local police officers who served her. Personal security details.
“The expenses have become unbearable for the residents. There are a lot of parties and events and resources to make it look like something is going on, but in reality we can’t afford that,” said a trustee in Dalton, Illinois. People, Kiana Belcher said.
Mayor Henyard has come under fire in recent months for his bizarre behavior and questionable spending, including hiring a DJ to interrupt speeches during government meetings and using police to dance in music videos. Local leaders are equally furious. .
“$1 million in overtime for police is ridiculous. We can’t afford that,” Belcher added.
Dalton, a small village of about 20,000 people just south of Chicago, now finds itself drowning in less than $5 million in debt. Trustee Jason House said the debt started piling up soon after Henyard took office in 2021.
She explained that her inaugural party cost $15,000, which Henyard’s campaign initially said would be paid for, but billed the village instead.
“If there was a party, she would make it happen,” Belcher said, referring to a Valentine’s Day party held Wednesday night at the town’s ice rink.
The link was filed in the fall of 2022, when Henyard allegedly overrode village officials and ordered construction on public land at a cost of $115,000 on a $10,000 bond.
When Mr. Henyard learned that the Board had stopped paying for the remainder of the rink, he went back to the Board, ordered the rink from another company, and was able to install the rink.
According to Illinois Answers, the link was completed days before Henyard’s key election. During the rink’s grand opening, the mayor released a video mocking the town board.
“Remember, look what God did when all five trustees said no!” she said with a laugh.
Residents and local leaders are not amused by this.
“There’s no transparency. You ask questions and they’re not going to give you information. As a legislative body, we pay the bills,” Belcher said, adding that Henyard allowed The link will only be used if you complain.
In September 2022, Henyard and the town board voted to donate $10,000 to her own foundation, which aims to help cancer patients. Illinois Answers Project and FOX 32.
A month later, Henyard organized a 10-day walking and biking trip across the state to Springfield in the foundation’s name, but charged most of the trip’s expenses to Dalton’s credit card.
The trip cost about $11,000 in total, including hotels, restaurants, photographers, DJs and supplies, and included a large fleet of town vehicles to escort the walk, FOX 32 reported.
Additionally, records show the town spent more than $17,000 on branded sweatshirts and T-shirts just a week before the walk, but did not disclose what the items were used for afterwards. During the walk, Henyard gave away foundation-branded sweatshirts and T-shirts, which are also available on the foundation’s website for about $30.
Henyard’s tendency to party and go on trips with town money is another problem for many in Dalton.
During Mr. Henyard’s tenure, he frequently flew first class on trips to Atlanta, Austin and New York City and stayed at luxury hotels like the Four Seasons, earning the city $60,000, according to records obtained by Mr. Henyard. He reportedly earned more than $7,000. wagon 9.
Since 2021, her use of local police officers as personal security personnel has cost the town nearly seven figures in overtime pay for officers assigned to the job.
“The contract says you can get the details, but it should be according to their shifts and that changes. But for her staff, they’re picking you up at 10 a.m., and you’re coming in late at night. We drop off at 12 noon, so it’s all overtime,” Belcher said.
“I pick up my daughter from school and go shopping,” she added.
“The previous mayor had a decoy police car. There’s a car there, but no one is actually in it. I mean, that’s enough of a deterrent for most people, but not enough for her.” It wasn’t,” explained trustee Brittney Norwood.
Henyard’s spending was so bad that the trustees sued her for check forgery and withholding financial records.
The mayor admonished the trustees about the lawsuit in a heated town hall last week, accusing them of attacking her because she is black, even though many of them are black.
“You all should be ashamed of being black. You are all black,” Henyard told the meeting. “And everyone too. [are] You’re sitting here beating and attacking black women who are in power. ”
Mr. Henyard also serves as Thornton Township supervisor. Between her two positions, she receives a salary of approximately $285,000.
She declined to answer questions from the Post during a Valentine’s Day party on Wednesday.
Before taking the job, Henyard ran Good Burger, a hamburger joint in the South Suburban College cafeteria, but that store has gone out of business. As of last spring, she still owed the university about $1,500 in unpaid bills related to the business, according to FOX 32.
She was arrested and charged with vehicular trespassing in 2016, according to Chicago police records. It is unclear what the charges against her were, and she had not responded to questioning as of Wednesday.
