Auditor cites arts board for improper follow up

A legislative audit has found that the Minnesota State Arts Board did not effectively monitor grantees who received money from the agency. The audit, released Thursday, said the board generally complied with requirements for grant programs, which include funds distributed from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, but did not follow up in some cases to make sure "grantees used grant money for purposes allowed by the specific appropriations and grant agreements." Grants require that a final report be submitted 30 days after the grant period. That report accounts specifically how the money was used. The audit covered grants in fiscal 2010 and 2011. Of 1,472 cases, 443 final reports were not filed within the 30 days. Sixty-two were more than 90 days past due. The arts board accepted the auditor's report and said in response that it will convert to a new online grant management system to automate notifications for grantees. Much of the current process is carried out manually. Here's the full report.