The Missouri State Auditor’s Office found fault with the way the Department of Conservation accounts for certain costs, but in an audit report released Friday, the agency was given an overall rating of “good.”

The report says the Department did not prepare a complete and accurate estimate of costs to reintroduce elk in Missouri.  The approved budget was $411,000 to bring 150 elk into the state.

As of this year, the MDC has spent $3.382 million to release 129 elk. That includes $1.424 million from federal grants and private donations, and does not include the salaries of those involved.

Auditor Tom Schweich says the MDC provided pay raises not provided to other state employees. The conservation commission authorized a two percent cost of living adjustment to most employees with 18 or more months of service in July 2012 and three other two percent raises through fiscal year 2014.

The MDC also provided a total of $54,036 in increases to two deputy directors and four division chiefs, who also received the annual and anniversary increases, and gave the department director, who did not receive the other increases, salary increases totaling $20,004, a 17 percent increase.

To read the full reports, click here.