Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources blunder loses thousands in federal funds

A state audit Thursday said the Illinois Department of Natural Resources may have lost out on nearly $59,000 in federal funds for flooding cleanup because it didn't properly account for its time.

Auditor General William Holland's report said the Federal Emergency Management Agency estimated Illinois would be eligible for $123,000 for repairing wildlife areas near Alton after Mississippi River flooding in 2002.

But Holland said DNR didn't use a required accounting system so could only account for $64,000 in expenses.

He says this was just one example of the problem. Not documenting billable expenses could jeopardize federal grant funding, which totaled $29 million to DNR last year, Holland said.

The reimbursement was for cleanup and repair of Mississippi River levees at about eight natural and waterfowl areas near Pere Marquette State Park, DNR spokeswoman Gayle Simpson said.

DNR officials acknowledged the agency did not consistently use the accounting program but disagreed that it lost any federal funds. They said the review did not take into account state funds required to be spent or how the federal government determined its estimate.