By staff reports
Jefferson City, Mo. – Missouri state auditor Claire McCaskill says the Department of Natural Resources has squandered taxpayer funds at the district level.
McCaskill's office conducted an audit of the agency, which found money spent on art and books unrelated to the agency's mission.
She said the district encompassing St. Louis and St. Charles Counties and the city of St. Louis is particularly at fault.
"That district actually is spending six thousand dollars to paint a mural on a conference room wall in a building that they're renting," McCaskill said. "I can't imagine a sillier use of money than painting a mural on a wall in a building that the state doesn't even own."
A spokeswoman for the department says it agrees with the audit and will use it as an opportunity to improve fund management.