Travel Expenses for Non-State Employees

In 2008, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity spent $9,271.86 to reimburse travel expenses for non-state employees.  The biggest recipients included Mark York who got $1,181.88; Evelyn Boswell, $1,112.77; and Randy Sticha, $1,078.74.  Additionally, there is no salary or payroll data for these three individuals suggesting they were not working as government contractors at the time of these reimbursements.  The state should provide taxpayers with more information to justify spending public funds to reimburse travel expenses.

Doing extra research on our end showed the top three recipients all serve the people of Illinois in admirable ways, ranging from school district president to a former chief of police.  Unfortunately the state did not provide us with this information in their responses to our Freedom of Information Act Requests.  It would be helpful if the state gave more information in their FOIA responses so the taxpayers can determine what is a good use of our money and what is not.

You can find this information for yourself by going to the "Checks to Businesses & People" and looking for "Reimbursement to nonstate emply travel expenses in," "Nonstate emply reimbursement for travel expenses," "Reimbursement to nonstate emply for travl expenses" and "Reimbursement of travel expenses nonstate emply."