Metro East Sun

State Sen. Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) is facing questions and controversy following a report showing that he was paid $58,500 in taxpayer dollars last year for a superintendent position at Commonfields of Cahokia Public Water and Sewage District.

The Belleville News-Democrat reported that Belt holds the only position in the company without a job description, and neither the company nor Belt have answered questions about what he actually does there. 

"If other business entities must have job descriptions and job assessments, the sewer district should be under those same requirements, if not more so," Cheryl Mathews, chair of the St. Clair Republican Party, told Metro East Sun. "Using taxpayer money should be transparent on all levels, starting in local districts."

Belt's $58,500 salary is on top of the $69,000 he earns as an elected state legislator. Both salaries are funded by taxpayer money. State lawmakers are allowed to have jobs outside of their legislative duties, but are required to disclose it on their statements of economic interest if they work for another public entity.

"Having two salaries isn’t the problem," Mathews said. "If an elected official wants or needs another salary, the second salary ought to be in the private sector. One would hope the personal ramifications when a decision is made on the elected level would make the laws and regulations more reasonable."

The report surfaces as some of Belt's fellow members of the Democratic Party members face ethical scandals from charges including embezzlement, tax evasion and bribery, the Metro East Sun previously reported.

“From Gov. (J.B.) Pritzker to Speaker (Mike) Madigan to Sen. Belt, Illinois Democrats are giving voters plenty of reasons not to trust them,” Mark Cavers, president of the Illinois Opportunity Project, said in a press release previously published by the Metro East Sun. “Families of all backgrounds want honest, effective government that serves their interests. The current politicians in power have shown no interest in providing a government that serves the people.”

Centreville residents filed a lawsuit in June 2020 against Commonfields over flooding issues and poor management of the area’s sewer system. 

Belt was absent during a virtual town hall meeting in early March aimed at addressing Centreville’s flooding issues. 

He was also absent from meetings held by the Centreville Citizens for Change, a group of residents seeking solutions.