Administrative Services

A supplemental compliance audit for the Department of Administrative Services recommended that the department lease, rather than purchase, data processing equipment. The audit was for the two-year period ending March 31, 1980. It was found that the department had traded in certain equipment and entered into an installment purchasing agreement for new equipment that resulted in a loss of $5.4 million to the Statistical Services Revolving Fund. The audit stated, "purchasing expensive computer equipment. . . is questionable" and "leasing, rather than outright purchase should always be carefully considered" because equipment can quickly become outdated.

Office of the Comptroller

Because of an excess balance of more than $50 million in the comptroller's debt service funds, the practice of transferring general revenue funds to these funds should be stopped, recommended an auditor general report for the 12 months ending March 31, 1980. The audit noted, however, that due to the interaction of the governor and treasurer in these transfers, an official attorney general opinion should be requested concerning whether the governor's permission is needed to reduce these transfers.

Children and Family Services

The Department of Children and Family Services is not utilizing standard licensing procedures for day care centers, the auditor general found in a report for a two-year period ending March 31, 1980. The compliance audit stated that the licensing division of the department failed to have examiners applying for licenses pass a test, which is required by the Child Care Act. The audit did note, however, that the department had implemented 31 of the 53 recommendations contained in a 1978 audit. In a separate financial audit of the department, the auditor general recommended that the department settle a dispute with Chicago's Department of Human Services, which said the state owes it $12 million for day care services.

26 | August 1981 | Illinois Issues