ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - 2025 has brought a trio of Missouri State Auditor investigations to the region.
Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick has begun to investigate the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. The investigation was prompted by a resolution from County Councilman Mark Harder.
"Sunshine law compliance, use of departmental credit cards, travel expenses," said Fitzpatrick to KMOX. "And then some of the employees in the office working second jobs."
Auditor Fitzpatrick says the scope of the investigation will likely mean it will take months, not weeks, to complete.
In a statement, a spokesperson for St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Melissa Price Smith said she supports the investigation and is looking forward to the review.
Fitzpatrick says he is also following through on Mayor Tishaura Jones's request for an investigation into two Building Division inspectors and their potential self dealing. Additionally, he has also begun to investigate the St. Louis Development Corporation's North City Grant Program.
"There are some allegations that some of these recipients of these grants had addresses that were vacant buildings," said Fitzpatrick to KMOX. "They basically had no history as an entity."
Plans to investigate the North City Grant Program began back in October 2024, when Missouri State Rep. Steve Butz (D) expressed concerns with news coverage of grants potentially going to fake businesses or those with ties to the SLDC board.
In a joint statement from SLDC and the Mayor's office the city welcomes any audit and in November a third party audit found the North City Grant Program to be fair and consistent with federal guidelines.