Questions about state pay raised after $1.7M overpayments
[October 29, 2026]
By Sean Reed | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – An ethics investigation into Illinois’ Department
of Child and Family Services recently revealed nearly six years of
regular overpayments to some employees, totaling $1.4 million.
According to a recent report from the Office of the Executive Inspector
General, the extra and overpayment to employees within DCFS occurred
through the Office of Employee Services manager, with approval from the
office’s director without additional oversight.
The investigation was sparked by an anonymous complaint alleging OES
Manager Jerry Mathis conducted personal business on the taxpayer’s dime.
During the investigation, it was found that Deputy Director Kimberly
Bates, hired in 2020, had approved extra-duty pay for both herself,
Mathis, and other DCFS staff, without approval or knowledge of the
Department of Central Management Services, between 2020 and the 2025
complaint.
State Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville, co-chair of the Committee
on Government Forecasting and Accountability, criticized the payments
despite his committee not having direct oversight of the agency.
“It's people that are high up enough that they should know better. And
then the people above them are all saying, ‘Well, I didn't approve it.’
‘Well, I didn't approve it.’ Well, at the end of the day, somebody had
to approve it,” Davidsmeyer said.
At least 30% of the $1.4 million went to employees within the OES.
Investigators found Bates received extra pay while on leave, even while
she approved additional pay for the employee temporarily covering her
role.
After the investigation was completed, Bates resigned, and Mathis was
given a 15-day suspension.
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The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services building is
shown in Springfield. Photo: Greg Bishop / The Center Square
“It'd be interesting to hear what the changes that they're making
are going to be,” Davidsmeyer said. “One person resigned, one person
got 15 days off unpaid, which is less than the overtime and the
extra days they used. I'm wondering who's going to repay that back
to the taxpayers at the end of the day and are there going to be any
type of criminal charges?”
Davidsmeyer said he’d support stronger oversight of different state
agencies to prevent further overpayments in the future.
“I like to think that the majority of our employees would not do
something like that, but you know, it never hurts and if you're not
doing anything wrong, you shouldn't be concerned about oversight,”
Davidsmeyer said.
The report comes as the agency has faced scrutiny from lawmakers and
media over its denial and ignoring of Freedom of Information Act
records requests.The agency was successfully sued this year by
nonprofit Capitol News Illinois for one 2024 request.
Another lawmaker, Jed Davis, R-Yorkville, recently told The Center
Square he’s also considering legal action against the agency over
its lack of answer to his own FOIA requests for data about who the
agency is sending to conduct child abuse and neglect investigations.
Davis said he believes the numbers will show the agency is sending
non-authorized investigators.
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