A substitute teacher owes Chicago City Hall nearly $200,000 for building code infractions, various penalties, and traffic citations accumulated over the past 25 years. This sum establishes him as the largest individual debtor among all employees of the City of Chicago and its associated agencies.
Despite allegedly owing City Hall over $136,000 in fines—primarily for public drinking and illicit cigarette sales near Douglass Park—a convicted bank robber secured an entry-level position through the CTA’s Second Chance program. This substantial debt appears to be a case of mistaken identity, as he was incarcerated when these tickets were issued by the police.
The proprietor of a West Side religious store, who owed the city more than $28,000 in water bills, nonetheless managed to secure a staff assistant job with a City Council member. This council member is notably advocating for Mayor Brandon Johnson to actively collect money from delinquent payers.
These individuals are part of a larger group of 12,761 people employed by the city or its sister agencies who collectively owe City Hall over $19.5 million. This total covers delinquent water bills, parking violations, speeding tickets, building-code violations, and other infractions, according to data provided by the city’s finance department to the Chicago Sun-Times in response to a public records request.
Records indicate that nearly 80% of these individuals with outstanding debts are employed by either the Chicago Board of Education or the Chicago Transit Authority, with their combined city debt approaching $15.7 million.
When it comes to recruitment, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and the CTA assert that they do not reject applicants who owe money to City Hall, even though the city retains the right to later garnish their wages.
In a formal written statement, the CTA affirmed that it “does not factor in debt owed to the city of Chicago when making hiring decisions.” The agency further clarified, “Additionally, the CTA is unable to deduct city debts from employee paychecks without a court order for wage garnishment or if an employee voluntarily agrees to the deductions.”
However, a Sun-Times analysis of city records revealed that more than half of all city employees with outstanding debts have never been enrolled in a payment plan with City Hall nor had their paychecks garnished to settle these obligations.
The amounts owed by these employees represent only a fraction of the staggering $8 billion in uncollected debt that Chicago officials have failed to recover over the past three decades, including $1 billion that has accrued since Mayor Johnson assumed office in May 2023.
Efforts to Privatize City Debt Collection
Last autumn, as Mayor Johnson sought to introduce new taxes and fees to stabilize the city’s budget, a majority of the 50 Chicago City Council members directed him to investigate the sale of at least $1 billion in outstanding debt, anticipating a return of millions.
It remains uncertain whether any entities—be they individuals or companies—will bid to acquire the various debts owed to City Hall, which range from delinquent water charges to parking citations. This uncertainty stems from the city’s Finance Department informing the Chicago Sun-Times that some of these debts may even be owed by deceased city employees.
“Prior to considering the sale of this debt, it is imperative that we pursue those who have evaded payment,” stated 34th Ward Ald. Bill Conway.
He added that for “debts owed to the city by its workforce, we possess established procedures to manage such situations,” highlighting City Hall’s legal authority to garnish up to 25% of an employee’s salary in accordance with state and municipal regulations.
Mayor Johnson, who himself had to remit nearly $5,000 to the city for overdue water bills and fines during his mayoral campaign, has consistently expressed reluctance about employing debt collectors to pressure individuals into settling their city obligations.
Alderman Conway, a former prosecutor whose political endeavors have received financial backing from his affluent father, holds an opposing perspective.
“It is fitting to pursue debt recovery from individuals who possess the financial capacity to pay,” he stated, adding, “The city currently retains seven law firms to assist with these collection efforts.”
While Johnson’s financial department refrained from commenting on specific employee debts, the Mayor’s Deputy Press Secretary Griffin Krueger stated that the department “consistently supplies city departments and affiliated agencies with lists of overdue obligations.” He further explained, “Debts are monitored via the city’s collection mechanisms, and individuals are informed of their pending balances and available resolution pathways.”
CPS Educator’s Outstanding Debt: $197,052
Walter Lee Turner has served as a substitute teacher for Chicago Public Schools for 17 years, earning $24.82 per hour.
Throughout his tenure, Turner has accumulated various outstanding debts to the city of Chicago, ranging from building code infractions on his residential properties to delinquent parking citations, according to city documents.
Records indicate his total obligation to the city stands at $197,052, which includes $58,000 in accumulated penalties and interest.
In the past eight years, City Hall has secured eight wage garnishment orders targeting Turner, instructing the school system to deduct funds from his earnings. The exact amount recovered by the city remains uncertain, partly due to his continued accumulation of new debts.
Turner acknowledged, “They have been garnishing my wages.” He added, “I didn’t contest it because I have a substantial debt.”
Last summer, Turner filed for bankruptcy independently, without legal representation. His filing, however, omitted any mention of his debt to City Hall, his property holdings, or his failure to submit state income tax returns.
Beyond his obligations to City Hall, county records indicate Turner also owes Cook County almost $20,000 in overdue property taxes. This debt pertains to his Chatham condominium, five additional residences and a vacant lot within the city, and two homes in Harvey. Notably, four of these properties were not declared in his bankruptcy filing.
A bankruptcy court trustee has requested that a judge dismiss Turner’s current petition, marking it as his 13th bankruptcy filing since 1994.
Half a dozen years prior, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) altered its policy, opting not to disqualify job candidates with outstanding city debts, on the premise that securing employment would enable them to settle their obligations.
CPS officials issued a written statement clarifying, “A prospective employee’s financial obligation to the city of Chicago is not a criterion in CPS hiring choices. Rather, the district focuses on an applicant’s credentials, work history, and capacity to foster student achievement.”
The finance department at City Hall routinely audits payroll records to identify individuals working for the city or its affiliated agencies who have outstanding debts, with the aim of recovering these sums through wage garnishments or structured payment agreements.
Incarcerated, Yet Still Issued Citations
According to City Hall records, Nikita Hampton, 58, holds the second-largest outstanding debt among city employees. He secured a low-tier position with the CTA following a more than two-decade stint in federal prison for 11 bank robberies on the city’s North Side.
The Johnson administration supplied the Sun-Times with documentation indicating Hampton’s total debt to the city is $136,000. This amount breaks down into $75,450 in fines, $60,108 in interest, and $1,320 in fees, all stemming from 34 citations issued by Chicago police under his name between 2010 and 2019.
Among these, a $200 fine was issued for bicycle riding on the sidewalk near Douglass Park on March 29, 2016. On July 18, 2017, a $5,000 penalty was incurred for selling individual cigarettes on the street close to Douglass Park. A week later, on July 25, 2017, police levied a $10,000 fine against Hampton for unlicensed sales of loose cigarettes on the sidewalk in the same vicinity.
Notably, Hampton was incarcerated throughout the period when all 34 citations were issued under his name, suggesting they were likely intended for his son, who shared his name and was tragically stabbed to death three years prior. Verifying this remains challenging as the city has redacted birth dates and addresses from the tickets.
“No, those are not my violations,” Hampton stated. “That has to be someone else. I was not released until 2023, so those couldn’t have been me. I am unsure how this confusion occurred. One only needs to verify with the Federal Bureau of Prisons; I entered in 2003 and was released in 2023. I certainly don’t want any issues with my city employment due to this inaccurate information.”
Despite city records indicating Hampton’s outstanding balance of $136,180, the city has not yet attempted to garnish his CTA earnings or arrange a payment plan for him.
City authorities have declined to comment on the citations issued to Hampton.
Hampton was released from federal prison in December 2023. Just seven months subsequent, he secured a position as a bus maintenance apprentice through the CTA’s Second Chance initiative. He has since advanced to a train safety worker role a few months ago, earning $23.93 per hour.
“I’m Currently Adhering to a Payment Plan”
Elizabeth Lockhart, who had thousands of dollars in overdue water bills with City Hall, secured a $70,000-a-year position in November 2024 as an assistant to 37th Ward Ald. Emma Mitts. Mitts is among several City Council members advocating for the mayor to prioritize debt collection from defaulters before considering tax increases.
Alderman Mitts stated she was unaware of Lockhart’s financial obligations to the city until a Sun-Times reporter brought the matter to her attention.
“I had no prior information about that until your email,” Mitts explained. “Upon inquiry, she informed me that she is enrolled in a payment plan.” Mitts also clarified that she has “no involvement with the city’s hiring procedures.”
In addition to her current role, Lockhart serves as the executive director for the Healing Temple Church of God in Christ and owns the Queen Liz Gospel Expression and Cafe located in Oak Park.
When questioned about her overdue water bill, Lockhart responded, “Why is the Sun-Times concerned with city employees owing money? I do not owe the city; I am on a payment plan.”
Lockhart’s outstanding water bill amounts to $28,621.64. She is one of 32 City Council employees whose collective debt to the city treasury totals $82,014, making her the individual with the largest sum owed.
“We must ensure all possible measures are taken to collect those funds,” Mitts stated. “I’ve always believed everyone is obligated to settle their bills.”