LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – Arkansas state Forester John Shannon has announced his resignation after a legislative audit questioned financial practices at the Arkansas Forestry Commission that led to the layoff of 34 employees.

Shannon announced his resignation to the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee. He said he submitted his resignation Thursday and it will be effective at the end of business Friday.

A legislative audit released earlier Friday found the commission improperly borrowed more than $6.4 million from federal grants to prop up its strained budget.

The Division of Legislative Audit found 59 instances since September 2007 in which money was transferred from federal grants to pay for the commission’s operations.

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