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REPORT DIGEST DRYCLEANER ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE TRUST FUND COUNCIL COMPLIANCE
EXAMINATION For the Year Ended: June 30, 2008 Summary of Findings: Total this audit 3 Total last audit 3 Repeated from last audit 2 Release Date: April 2, 2009
State of
Office of the Auditor General WILLIAM G. HOLLAND AUDITOR GENERAL
To obtain a copy of the
Report contact: Office of the Auditor
General
(217) 782-6046 or TTY (888)
261-2887 This Report Digest and Full
Report are also available on the worldwide web at |
SYNOPSIS ·
The Council
did not enforce statutory timeframes for reimbursement requests. {Receipts, Disbursements
and Activity Measures are summarized on the next page.} |
DRYCLEANER
ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE
TRUST
FUND COUNCIL
COMPLIANCE
EXAMINATION
FOR THE
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2008
|
STATISTICS |
FY 2008 |
FY 2007 |
|
DRYCLEANER
ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE TRUST FUND RECEIPTS: License Fees Collected................................................ Solvent Taxes Collected.............................................. Insurance Premium Collected....................................... Late Payment Fees and Miscellaneous......................... Net Fees Collected for Council.............................. Interest Income............................................................ Net Receipts EXPENDITURES: Contractual Services.................................................... Travel.......................................................................... Refunds....................................................................... Grants and Awards (Claims Payments)........................ Total Disbursements.............................................. |
$2,405,450 850,972 1,024,100 50,928 $4,331,450 245,086 $4,576,536 |
$2,564,633 979,683 1,026,200 43,823 $4,614,339 198,805 $4,813,144 $3,517,518 |
The above information was obtained from agency
and Comptroller records and includes that portion of the receipts reported by
the Illinois Department of Revenue and the Office of the Treasurer. License fees and solvent taxes collected are
reported net of a 4% collection fee charged by the Department of Revenue.
|
ACTIVITY MEASURES
(Not Examined) |
FY 2008 |
FY
2007
|
|
License applications
received............................................. |
1,217 |
1,272 |
|
Licenses in force................................................................ |
1,197 |
1,239 |
|
Insurance
applications received.......................................... |
685 |
719 |
|
Insurance policies in
force.................................................. |
674 |
712 |
|
Eligible remedial and
insurance claims filed.......................... |
699 |
699 |
|
Eligible remedial and
insurance claims closed...................... |
254 |
151 |
|
Cost per eligible
claim filed................................................. |
$312 |
$351 |
|
COUNCIL CHAIRMAN |
|
During Audit Period: John
Polak Currently: John Polak |
|
For 80% of
vouchers tested, billings were submitted 7 to 570 days late |
INTRODUCTION The Drycleaner Environmental Response Trust Fund Council
(Council) oversees the licensure of all drycleaning facilities in the State
of FINDINGS,
CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FAILURE TO ENFORCE STATUTORY TIMEFRAMES FOR PAYMENT REQUESTS The
Council did not require owners and operators of drycleaning facilities to
submit invoices and bills within 30 days of completion of remediation work as
required by statute. We noted 28 of 35
(80%) vouchers tested, totaling $723,651, paid billings that were submitted 7
to 570 days late. The Drycleaner Environmental Response Trust Fund Act (Act) states that claimants are subject to limitations on reimbursement, including a requirement that all invoices and bills for remediation work shall be submitted not later than 30 days after the work has been performed (415 ILCS 135/40(f)(6). (Finding 1, Pages 9-10) This finding was first reported in 2006. We
recommended the Council enforce the requirement that invoices and necessary
documentation be submitted timely as required by the Act or continue to seek
legislative remedy to the statutory requirement. Council
representatives accepted our recommendation. Representatives responded that legislation
was introduced in March 2008 to eliminate
the 30-day requirement, but was not considered by the Senate before the end
of session. Draft legislation was expected to be filed again in February. OTHER FINDINGS The other findings are reportedly being
given attention by the Council. We will review the Council’s progress toward
implementing our recommendations in our next examination. AUDITORS' OPINION
We conducted a compliance examination of the Drycleaner Environmental
Response Trust Fund Council as required by the Illinois State Auditing
Act. We have not audited any financial
statements of the Council for the purpose of expressing an opinion
because the agency does not, nor is it required to, prepare
financial statements. ___________________________________ WILLIAM G. HOLLAND, Auditor General WGH:LW AUDITORS ASSIGNED
This examination was
conducted by staff of the Office of the Auditor General. DIGEST FOOTNOTE #1 FAILURE TO ENFORCE STATUTORY
TIMEFRAMES FOR PAYMENT REQUESTS - Previous Council Response 2007: The Council is seeking a
legislative remedy to eliminate the statutory 30-day requirement. When the Council became aware of the
non-compliance finding in April 2007, they took action at their April 24,
2007 Council meeting by passing a motion to seek legislation to eliminate the
requirement. Legislation
was introduced in March 2008 which would eliminate the 30-day requirement. |