FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS
WEIGHTS AND MEASURING DEVICES NOT INSPECTED EVERY TWELVE MONTHS
We noted that 7.97% (9,633 of 120,856) of weights and measuring devices did not
receive an inspection in calendar year 2000 as required by the Weights and Measures Act
(225 ILCS 470/10).
Inspectors rejected or condemned 5.26% (4,703 devices rejected; 1,143 condemned) of all
devices inspected in 2000. Condemned devices are so far out of specification they cannot
be used without repair. Rejected devices are only slightly out of specification and can be
used for 10 days to allow time for repair. Such devices include but are not limited to gas
pumps, grocery store scales, hardware store scales, feed and grain scales, drug measuring
scales, vehicle scales and State Police scales.
Department officials stated that they were not able to inspect all weights and
measuring devices within the twelve month time frame because of staff shortages caused by
leaves of absence, resignations and death and by loss of time due to weather conditions
during winter months. The Department had increased the number of inspectors from 35 to 40
in 1998, and 97.75% of the devices were inspected in 1999. (Finding 1, page 15) This
finding was first reported in 1987.
We recommended the Department provide sufficient staff so that all weights and
measuring devices can be inspected annually as required by statute.
Department officials accepted the recommendation and responded that they believe they
can meet the statutory requirement to inspect all weights and measuring devices within
twelve months with the current headcount of 42 field inspectors and with the following
changes to operating procedures:
Department officials stated the changes in operating procedure were effective January
2002. (For previous Department responses, see Digest footnote.)
EXCESS AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT FUND BALANCE
The Illinois Aquaculture Development Fund was established as required by the
Aquaculture Development Act (Act) (20 ILCS 215/5.5). Pursuant to the Act, on July 1, 1999
and on each July 1 thereafter through July 1, 2008, the Comptroller is required to
transfer $1,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Aquaculture Development
Fund. These transfers were appropriately made on July 1, 1999 and July 1, 2000.
The Department is directed to make grants from the Illinois Aquaculture Development
Fund to an Aquaculture Cooperative. The Department paid $1,000,000 to the Cooperative in
fiscal year 2000 and fiscal year 2001. The Act states "the grants for the Cooperative
shall be distributed from the Illinois Aquaculture Development Fund as provided by
rule." However the grant made in fiscal year 2000 was paid from the General Revenue
Fund rather than the Illinois Aquaculture Development Fund. Accordingly there has been an
excess fund balance of $1,000,000 in the Illinois Aquaculture Development Fund since July
1, 1999.
Department personnel stated the Department paid the fiscal year 2000 grant from the
General Revenue Fund because the fiscal year 2000 appropriation for the grant to the
Illinois Aquaculture Cooperative was made from the General Revenue Fund rather than the
Illinois Aquaculture Development Fund. (Finding 3, pages 17-18)
We recommended the Department either obtain an appropriation to transfer $1,000,000
from the Illinois Aquaculture Development Fund to reimburse the General Revenue Fund or
obtain statutory authority to forego the required $1,000,000 July 1 transfer for one year.
The Department officials responded that they have no reason to believe that an error
was made in appropriating funds from the General Revenue Fund for aquaculture cooperatives
in fiscal year 2000. However they agreed to notify both the Governor’s Office (Bureau
of the Budget) and the General Assembly of the Aquaculture Development Fund balance so
that they may take whatever action they deem to be necessary.
AGENCY ACTION PLAN NOT TIMELY PREPARED
The Interagency Wetland Policy Act of 1989 (20 ILCS 830/2-2) provides that:
"Within one year following passage of this act each State agency serving on the
Interagency Wetland Committee shall prepare an Agency Action Plan, which shall be used as
the agency’s procedural plan for the implementation of the Act." The Act was
effective August 12, 1989. The Department is named as serving on the Interagency Wetlands
Committee pursuant to section 2-1 of the Act and is still in the process of developing a
plan. (Finding 7, page 22)
Department officials agreed with our recommendation to allocate sufficient resources to
complete its Agency Action Plan without further delay.
OTHER FINDINGS
The remaining findings were less significant and are reportedly being given
attention by the Department. We will review progress toward implementing our
recommendations in our next audit.
Ms. Nancy Hilger, Chief Internal Auditor, provided the responses to our findings and
recommendations.
AUDITORS’ OPINION
Our auditors state the combined financial statements of the Department of
Agriculture as of June 30, 2001 and June 30, 2000, and for the years then ended are fairly
presented in all material respects.
_______________________________________
WILLIAM G. HOLLAND, Auditor General
WGH:JAF:pp
SPECIAL ASSISTANT AUDITORS
Our special assistant auditors for this audit were Sleeper, Disbrow, Morrison,
Tarro & Lively, LLC.
DIGEST FOOTNOTE
WEIGHTS AND MEASURING DEVICES NOT INSPECTED EVERY TWELVE MONTHS – Previous
Department Responses:
1999: "The Department concurs with this finding. We plan to continue to
improve the inspection process until all weighing and measuring devices are inspected once
every twelve months. Because the Department has hired and now trained an adequate staff to
meet those mandated inspection requirements, we anticipate less than 5% of all known
devices will not be inspected during 1999, a significant improvement from 28% in 1996 and
11% in 1998. Another factor to be considered is the total number of devices being
inspected, an even larger number of devices inspected by percentage compared to 1996 and
1998. As the inspection staff becomes more knowledgeable in multiple inspection areas and
no cities drop their inspection programs, we anticipate the number of uninspected devices
will continue to decrease."
1997: "The Department utilizing increased funding, new equipment and improved
efficiency, will attempt to inspect all weighing and measuring devices at least once every
twelve months."
1995: "The Department concurs. The Department will attempt to implement this
recommendation. The FY96 budget request will seek additional resources."
1993: "The Department concurs and will attempt to implement this recommendation.
Additional inspection personnel have been requested but the Department has been unable to
obtain funding from the General Assembly. Efforts to obtain necessary funding will
continue."
1991: "The Department has requested additional inspection personnel, but has been
unable to obtain funding from the General Assembly. The statute is currently being
reviewed to determine whether or not the twelve month requirement can be changed."
1989: "The Department has requested adequate personnel to perform the required
inspections in each annual budget cycle. Where practical, geographic reassignments are
being done on a temporary basis."
1987: "The Division’s ability to meet its mandate of inspecting all weighing
and measuring devices every twelve months has been hampered by a reduction of 28% of its
manpower over the past eight years. Productivity gains have been more than offset by this
loss of headcount. The Division has and will continue to temporarily assign inspectors
outside their assigned geographic area to meet the statutory mandate. However, a shortage
of travel budget limits how much reassigning can be done."
