Audit: Less than half of Road Fund spent on roads
SPRINGFIELD — A new audit has found that less than half of the money from the state Road Fund has gone toward direct road construction costs.
The audit released Tuesday states that in eight of the past 10 years more than half of the funds went to pay salaries, road construction bonds and other costs. It also revealed overpayments to state health insurance and workers’ compensation funds.
The Road Fund had about $25 billion in revenues between 2003 and 2012 from fuel taxes, motorist fees and federal stimulus funds.
Lawmakers requested the audit after questions arose about how the money was used. For example, former Gov. Rod Blagojevich used some money for a summer jobs program in 2008.
Republican state Sen. Bill Brady says the audit proves taxpayers still are being cheated.