Arkansas treasurer's use of funding questioned

LITTLE ROCK—Arkansas auditors have found that the state treasurer's office has spent state funding on events, meals, gifts and personal purchases without a reasonable business purpose.

Auditors told lawmakers Thursday that state Treasurer Dennis Milligan's office made the purchases between June 2015 and February 2017, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported. They said the office spent almost $4,300 on catered events and meals, almost $840 for gifts and more than $800 in personal purchases.

Deputy Legislative Auditor Jon Moore said the office has reimbursed the gifts and personal purchases. But he said Arkansas law bans a state constitutional officer or their employees from spending state funding for personal use, maintenance and operation of the office.

Milligan wrote a letter to auditors that said his office thought the expenditures were a legitimate expense. He said purchases now require approval from a supervisor and a chief deputy treasurer.

Read more: http://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/arkansas/story/2017/nov/03/arkansas-treasurers-use-funding-questioned/698500/