$4.7 Million on Advertising

More than $4.7 million was spent on advertising in 2008 and 2009, in addition to the more than $6 million spent on professional advertising and media services.

by Amanda Griffin-Johnson

Using our transparency website, IllinoisOpenGov.org, I found that the State of Illinois spent more than $4.7 million on advertising in 2008 and 2009. This amount is in addition to the $6.6 million we previously reported the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity paid to J Walter Thompson over that time period for “Professional Advertising/Media Services.” The Department of Transportation was responsible for most of spending with their advertising expenses totaling $4,579,865.68 in 2009. The Department of Public Health spent the second greatest amount with $97,120.50 in 2008. The table below breaks down the expenditures by year and department.

While most of the expenses are simply labeled “Advertising,” there are a few expenditures with more descriptive labels. For example, the Department of Employment Security spent $15,168.29 on “TAA Advertising Cost,” and the Department of Public Health spent $12,620.50 on telephone advertising.

To find these expenses on the IllinoisOpenGov site, go to “Checks to Businesses & People” and scroll down “Category of Spending” to “Advertising,” “TAA Advertising Cost For Fy 20,” “Teleph1 Advertising,” “Advertising In The 2010 Edition Of The Il Services,” and “Advertising In The 2009 Edition Of The Il Services.” 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.