Delay in disbursing summer job payments for suburban Chicago teens linked to complications with state grant distribution
In a relief for six south suburban Chicago teens, their long-awaited paychecks finally arrived after weeks of uncertainty. The teens had been working various summer jobs, including renovating classrooms, working with children at daycares, and landscaping, all under the guidance of the Cook County Southland Juvenile Justice Council.
The delay in payment was due to a procedural issue related to the fiscal year-end. When the fiscal year ended on June 30, the state had to issue a one-day contract to continue funding, which took 30 days to process. As a result, the payments, originally scheduled for July 1, were only transferred on August 1.
David Garcia, one of the teens, expressed his frustration about waiting for payment for two to three weeks. Nancy Bustos, another teen, mentioned that the delayed payment was particularly problematic because she was trying to save money while in college. Alahna Davis also shared similar concerns about the delayed payment and the lack of answers.
The state transferred two payments for $100,000 and another for $136,000 on Aug. 1, bringing the total to $253,000, the amount awarded to the council in April. James Lyles, the council's chief executive officer, highlighted concerns about the state's capacity to handle these contracts efficiently and expressed the need for clearer commitments to avoid such payment delays affecting the teens in the future. The council is considering requiring written commitments from the state to ensure timely payment going forward.
Jermont Terry, a reporter who joined the team in October 2019, reported on the community's concerns. He emphasised the importance of these jobs for the teens, not just as a source of income, but also as a means to gain work experience and contribute to their community.
The Illinois comptroller's website initially stated that the payments were supposed to transfer on July 1, but the delay in contract processing caused the payments to be delayed by a month. Despite the frustration, the teens remain hopeful for a smoother process in the future.
- Despite the delay in receiving their payments, Nancy Bustos, a teen worker, acknowledged the importance of the job-search opportunities provided, as she was trying to save money while simultaneously pursuing her education-and-self-development in college.
- Jermont Terry, a reporter, highlighted the significance of these summer jobs not only as a source of career-development income, but also as a means for the teens to gain valuable work experience and contribute positively to their community, as reported on his news segment.
