NW Illinois News

Sen. Brian Stewart queried Illinois Arts Council Agency Chairman Shirley R. Madigan and Chief Fiscal Officer Yazoo Hall regarding the Office of the Audit General’s findings during the April 7 Senate Appropriations - General Services Committee meeting.

Stewart asked if the previous audit findings will still come up in the next reports and gave the witnesses the opportunity to provide explanations on the findings.

“The two most significant findings reported is that the arts council has yet to adopt formal rules including rules related to grant procedures… and that the council has inadequate controls over grant procedures,” he said. “Can we anticipate if the auditor general is going to find those again or are they as you've just indicated to us that they're going to be resolved and that there will be no more further audit findings as relating to controls over grants again?”

Hall and Madigan explained that the council has processes in place and the issue over grants has been resolved. Hall said that the JCAR rules may still come up in the next audit reports. Madigan stated that it would depend on the auditor general, in which some years — according to her — they are told to go to JCAR and some years not.

Resources to support the Illinois Arts Council Agency’s grants and services are provided by the governor and General Assembly of Illinois and the National Endowment for the Arts. Stewart said he is a strong supporter of the arts and appreciates the organization's efforts.