Auditor Finds Fat To Cut
Times-Picayune (excerpt)

Legislative Auditor Steve Theriot's office has issued the first "informational report" about possible duplication of services in state agencies to the Commission on Streamlining Government. The report deals with potential overlapping of functions and duplication of services by four agencies involved in awarding grants to finance youth drug prevention programs. First Assistant Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera said a total of eight reports will be issued in areas of "potential duplication." The report pointed out that the state Department of Education, the governor's office, the Department of Health and Hospitals and the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement receive federal or state money for grants to groups to help battle illegal drug use among youths. The report said the state Education Department last year received almost $5.6 million in grants, kept $4.47 million and turned over the rest to the governor's office, which parceled it out to 46 organizations. The Education Department turned over its share to local school boards and school officials to use in their antidrug programs. The Department of Health and Hospitals, auditors said, received $5.97 million in federal funds in 2008 to award to community organizations involved in substance abuse programs targeting youth 18 and younger. The law enforcement commission, which administers the Drug Abuse Resistance Education, or DARE, program, was awarded $3.17 million through the state's settlement of a lawsuit with the tobacco industry. The money was allocated to 84 recipients.