REPORT DIGEST

ILLINOIS EDUCATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD

FINANCIAL AND COMPLIANCE AUDIT
For the Two Years Ended:
June 30, 1997

Summary of Findings:

Release Date:
March 26, 1998

State of Illinois
Office of the Auditor General

WILLIAM G. HOLLAND
AUDITOR GENERAL

Iles Park Plaza
740 E. Ash Street
Springfield, IL 62703
(217) 782-6046

SYNOPSIS

• The Board violated the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act by not certifying election results within five working days as required.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

{Expenditures and Activity Measures are summarized on the reverse page.}

FY 1997

FY 1996

FY 1995

• Total Expenditures (All Funds)
  
  OPERATIONS TOTAL
  % of Total Expenditures
  Personal Services
  % of Operations Expenditures
  Average No. of Employees
  
  Other Payroll Costs (FICA, Retirement)
  % of Operations Expenditures
  
  Contractual Services
  % of Operations Expenditures
  
  All Other Operations Items
  % of Operations Expenditures
  
  GRANTS TOTAL
  % of Total Expenditures
  
  
  
• Cost of Property and Equipment
  

$1,202,835

$1,202,835
100%
$867,833
72%
20

$140,735
12%

$103,960
8%

$90,307
8%

$0
0%


$403,762

$1,134,271

$1,134,271
100%
$813,237
72%
20

$128,892
11%

$96,262
9%

$95,880
8%

$0
0%


$367,820

$1,129,111

$1,129,111
100%
$813,858
72%
20

$123,575
11%

$115,420
10%

$76,258
7%

$0
0%


$364,526

FY 1997

FY 1996

FY 1995

• Representation Cases Filed

• Unfair Labor Practice Cases Filed

• School Strikes

97

546

6

98

576

5

95

608

8

During Audit Period: John Albrecht (until 8/95), Julie Hughes (8/95-2/96), Victor Blackwell (effective 2/96)

Currently: Victor Blackwell

Election results were not certified timely

INTRODUCTION

The Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board was created by the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. The Board consists of a chairman and two members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Board has jurisdiction over collective bargaining matters between educational employees and public school educational employers. The Board's primary responsibilities under the Act are to process representation petitions, including conducting elections; to process unfair labor practice charges; and to process mediation/arbitration requests.

FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

CERTIFICATION OF ELECTIONS

The Board did not timely certify election results. We noted 22 of 25 (88%) instances where the election results were not certified within five working days as required by statute. In most instances, the elections were certified within six working days.

The Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act (115 ILCS 5/8) requires the Board to certify the results of the election within five working days after the final tally of votes unless a charge is filed by a party alleging that improper conduct occurred which affected the outcome of the election.

We recommended the Board comply with statute by certifying the results of elections within five working days or seek legislation to change the certification requirement.

The Board agreed with our finding and plans to seek an amendment to the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board's rules and regulations to require objections be filed no later than four working days following service of the final tally of ballots. Currently, five working days are allowed for filing of objections.

AUDITORS' OPINION

Our auditors stated the financial statements of the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board Fair Share Trust Fund are fairly presented as of and for the years ended June 30, 1997 and 1996.

____________________________________
WILLIAM G. HOLLAND, Auditor General

WGH:GSR:pp

SPECIAL ASSISTANT AUDITORS

McGreal, Johnson and McGrane served as special assistant auditors for this audit.