Open Illinois.org

Using our transparency website, IllinoisOpenGov.org, I found that in 2008 and 2009 the State of Illinois spent over a million dollars on household, laundry, and cleaning supplies. In 2008, the Department of Veteran Affairs spent the most with $436,058.77, and the Department of Employment Security came in second with $21,763.07. By the time of our FOIA request in 2009, the Department of Transportation spent $256,024.62, the Department of Veteran Affairs spent $181,885.70, and the Department of Military Affairs spent $107,659.32. The table below breaks down the spending by year and department.

There are 381 vendors listed for the expenses. The three vendors who received the most are Industrial Soap Company ($119,823), Shelby County Comm Serv Inc ($104,720), and Aladdin Temp-Rite LLC ($65,198).

To find these expenditures on the IllinoisOpenGov site, go to “Checks to Businesses & People” and scroll down “Category of Spending” to “House Laundry & Cleaning Supp,” “Household Cleanin&Laundry Equip not exceeding $100,” “Household, Laundry & Cleaning Supplies,” “Household, Laundry and Cleaning Supplies,” “Household, Laundry&Cleaning Equip, Not > $100,” “Household, Laundry&Cleaning Supplies,” “Household/Cleaning Supplies,” and “Hshld, Laundry, Clean Supplies.” To download the data click on the Excel or CSV icon below the search results.

*Expenses showing “$0″ have been classified by their respective departments, and were not available through the FOIA.