Dist. 158 laments loss of comptroller who started fixing problems

One day after Stacie Talbert resigned as comptroller of Huntley Unit District 158, officials called her departure a huge blow to a district that was making strides to restore financial accountability.

Talbert announced at Thursday's board meeting that she will resign her post in January, just six months after she was hired.

Talbert's resignation means the district will have to search for a new finance director for the second time in the past year.

Because of a litany of financial problems and District 158's politically charged atmosphere, the district has lost three finance officers since 2005.

But district officials said Talbert's loss will be felt more acutely because of the steps she took to restore public trust in a district that was beset by financial irregularities, including a possible payroll theft.

"It was pretty devastating news because in six months, she has made huge strides in that fiscal office and been able to accomplish exactly the types of things we need to have happen in that office," board Vice President Tony Quagliano said.

Talbert has overseen the implementation of new software that will allow the district to better manage its payroll and track related documents.

She also prepared a 19-page report detailing the district's inadequate internal controls -- that is, procedures that ensure reliable financial reporting and compliance with relevant laws.

That report, presented to the board just one week before Talbert's resignation, reveals that the district still has a long way to go toward righting its financial ship.

The report concludes that the district's controls surrounding purchasing and accounts payable "are inconsistent, weak, and lend (themselves) to major deficiencies."

The report also notes that "there are no audit trails" in the district and that the district needs a fund balance policy to ensure there is enough money to cover expenses in case of emergency.

District officials said they now need to focus on finding a qualified candidate who can continue Talbert's work and carry out the recommendations in the internal controls report.

"That's a blueprint for some things that need to be done," Superintendent John Burkey said of the report. "That will be a huge asset to the future."

The district will probably have to find someone to oversee the district's finances on an interim basis and hire a search firm to help find a permanent replacement who would start in the summer, officials said.

"It means a very difficult process of replacing someone who was very qualified and effective at doing her job, and that is not an easy task," Quagliano said.

Talbert, who was formerly the director of financial services at Rock Valley College, has accepted a job as chief financial officer for the Rockford Park District.