Auditors criticize Illinois DOT's handling of tax dollars

Auditors checked 25 bills and found that one-quarter of them were actually paid twice.

The Associated Press

5/9/2008

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State auditors scolded the Illinois Department of Transportation on Thursday for poor oversight of government money.

For instance, IDOT didn't keep a sharp watch on payments to businesses that did work for the state.

Auditors checked 25 bills and found that one-quarter of them were actually paid twice.

Auditor General William Holland's office also found problems with grant money doled out by IDOT.

IDOT paid $3.2 million to reimburse a city for doing maintenance of state highways, auditors found, but the department could provide no evidence that it checked the maintenance work to make sure it was performed properly. There was a similar lack of oversight on a deal worth nearly $1 million to buy a rescue vehicle and parcel of land.

Auditors also said poor paperwork made it difficult to tell whether state vehicles were used properly when employees took them home overnight.

IDOT officials say they'll improve their accounting procedures.

The audit found that 6.6 percent of Illinois bridges were overdue for an inspection, either by IDOT or by local agencies. But only a fraction of the overdue bridges had been rated "structurally deficient," suggesting they might need extra scrutiny for safety reasons.