PEKIN, Ill. — A second censure vote.
Wednesday night, the Tazewell County Board voted nearly unanimously, 14-1, to censure County County Clerk John Ackerman, reversing a decision made in January.
Ackerman was criticized by the board members for giving raises to his staff without including them in the county budget. Last month, the board voted 9-8 not to censure him.
Ackerman told WMBD News, the board has talked about the issue for a total of four meetings and five months.
“It all began with it was illegal. I didn’t have the authority and I didn’t have the funding. It converted then to it was legal, but I didn’t have the authority and I didn’t have the funding. Last night, they heard it was legal, I had the authority, I had the funding, but they didn’t like it,” Ackerman said.
Board members said they tried work with Ackerman get him to rescind the raises, but to no avail.
Ackerman said despite the censure, it’s business as usual.
“I’m gonna be in the office here today. Working full-time again for the taxpayers of Tazewell County. I have been since I was elected. I will continue to be. Nothing’s changed. We’ve got an election here in three weeks. And, I’m preparing for that,” Ackerman said.
In January, Ackerman said half of his employees were making much less than other county employees.
