Audit finds lapses in Minn. state purchasing cards

A new audit finds lapses in the oversight of purchasing cards issued to state employees, including some examples where the state sales tax went unpaid.

The report released Friday by Legislative Auditor James Nobles says documentation was missing for some purchases made with the cards, which have purchasing limits and require employees to maintain logs of transactions.

Auditors say logs were missing for some purchases, including $17,609 worth of transactions made by Department of Transportation employees.

The audit also says nine state agencies failed to pay $2,200 in sales tax on transactions where the vendor didn't charge the tax.

In written responses to the audit, 18 state agencies, boards and offices agreed with the findings and said they are tightening policies for the cards.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)