After last month’s decision by the Knox County Board to file a lawsuit against the state for unpaid salaries, State’s Attorney John Pepmeyer has done just that.
In a news release, Pepmeyer said the county has filed suit against Illinois seeking reimbursement for salaries of the Knox County Public Defender, the Knox County Assessor and the Knox County State’s Attorney.
Pepmeyer says the state has refused to issue county salaries due to the impasse between Gov. Bruce Rauner and state legislature that has prevented the approval of a budget since July of last year.
The Knox County state’s attorney says the Illinois State Revenue Sharing Act creates a “special fund” in the state treasury which entitles counties, as taxing bodies, to payments without further legislative action.
Knox is one of several counties filing suit. Others include St. Clair, Williamson and Franklin.
County Board Chairman Brian Friedrich says he supports the litigation as a means to “place Knox County’s financial house in order.”
