Illinois' Auditor General Frank Mautino said millions of dollars meant for state anti-violence programs are unaccounted for. Gov. Bruce Rauner 's administration said the problem happened under former Gov. Pat Quinn and the state plans to recover the money.
The anti-violence initiative started in 2010 to curb gun violence in Chicago. But there was little oversight over the roughly $94 million in grant money. The critical audit covered the program funding through the 2014 budget year. An earlier audit was equally critical.
The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority administered the grants toward the end. John Maki, who heads the agency under Rauner, said the state hopes find more than $5 million.
"We will aggressively go after every questioned expense and recover every cent that was mispent or unspent," he said.
A spokesman for Quinn said the authority was put in charge of the grants because of its law enforcement expertise. He says Quinn signed a law meant to impose tougher oversight on state grants.
