A state representative owes more than $350,000 in rent and leasehold taxes for a Chicago Public Schools-owned property she has used as her office rent free for several years, the school district's inspector general said.
State Rep. Monique Davis (D-Chicago) has used the property at 1234 W. 95th St. for 14 years, but hasn't had a lease since 2002, according to a report released today by Inspector General James Sullivan.
Davis, who is a former school administrator, says she met several times with school board members and officials to try and get a lease, so both the school district and state could sign off on it before paying rent. She would have had the state reimburse her for the costs of occupying the building, but never got a lease to do so, Davis says.
Now the issue will be resolved in court after the school district gave Davis a summons in November.
"The board failed to give me a lease. Therefore, they didn't get rent," Davis says.
Davis's ordeal was listed in the inspector general's office's annual report on misconduct, complaints and other financial mismanagement at Chicago Public Schools.
A message left with Sullivan Tuesday afternoon was not immediately returned. A message was also left with Chicago Public Schools.
The property cost about $1,500 a month, and Davis, who has served the 27th District for 22 years, owes the school district about $74,900, according to the report. Davis is also responsible for paying Cook County about $157,500 in leasehold taxes for the past 20 years, but with late fee penalties, the total amounts to about $286,900, according to the report.
Davis knew she was working in a building without a lease and tried to get the issue resolved by reminding school board members at state meetings or sending a letter to former school attorney Marilyn Johnson, Davis says. She was always told the school board was working on it, Davis says.
"We'll let the judge decide who did something right and who did something wrong. I'm really sad. I had a very good relationship with the Chicago Board of Education," Davis says. "I do not intend to have a blemish (on my record) based on what someone else failed to do."
Davis was also irked by the timing of her court summons, which was delivered the Monday after the funeral of board president Michael Scott, who committed suicide in early November.
"I'm sorry this happened. I know it will be resolved amicably," Davis says.
The full text of the report can be found on Pages 10 and 11 of the report.
The school district should evict Davis from the propert, collect all rent owed and seek any legal remedies to force her to payback leasehold taxes owed to the county, Sullivan ruled in the report.
"I know we will get this resolved, because you're dealing with very professional people. I think it's a lack of professional judgment at the Board of Education," Davis says.