Mo. auditor to examine local license offices

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri Auditor Tom Schweich is looking into the local offices that issue Missouri vehicle and driver's licenses.

Schweich said Monday his audit will examine the Department of Revenue's process for awarding contracts to run the offices. He also plans to review the operating procedures of some of the 183 license offices.

Missouri governors used to appoint people to run the offices under a political patronage system. But former Gov. Matt Blunt began seeking competitive bids for some offices, and Gov. Jay Nixon expanded that to all offices.

A 2009 law requires license offices to be awarded by a competitive bid process. That same law also gives the auditor authority to examine the records of license offices.