Posted on 11/18/2015 9:10:11 AM PST by MichCapCon
Legislation has been introduced to create what is in effect a statute of limitations concerning public school financial audits. House Bill 5007 would prevent auditors from delving into past school district audits other than those of the most recent years.
âWe donât want audits to go back 10 years,â said Nick Wake, spokesman for Rep. Mike Callton, R-Nashville, the bill's sponsor. âWeâre capping the audits so they canât go back beyond three years.â
In Michigan every school district, intermediate school district and public charter school has to complete a financial audit each year. These audits must be posted on the districtâs website.
According to Wake, Callton introduced House Bill 5007 in response to the impact a financial audit had on Delton Kellogg Schools, which is in Callton's district. Auditors had reviewed past audits going back a number of years.
âKelloggâs issue involved finances that were audited way back,â Wake said. âOur concern is what happens when they start hitting school districts that are tight on money.â
Delton Kellogg Schoolsâ 2015 audit report released in October reveals that the districtâs (unrestricted) deficit is $17,431,061, which was an increase of more than $16 million over the $1,038,121 deficit it reported in 2014.
The $17,431,06 deficit is highlighted in a section of the audit report titled "Delton Kellog Schools Administration's Discussion and Analysis." It states the following: "The $(17,431,061) in unrestricted net position [deficit] of governmental activities represents the accumulated results of all past years' operations.â
There were no responses to repeated attempts to contact the school districtâs Superintendent Carl Schoessel.
Bill DiSessa, spokesman for the Michigan Department of Education said he wasnât readily aware of any specific school district audit issues pertaining to the legislation.
âThe department is reviewing the bill at this time,â DiSessa said.
So, who is this policy designed to protect?
This means the previous year's audits weren't conducted properly. The auditors are supposed to check for accrued liabilities and assure the current year's operations are properly reflected, as well as the total accumulated liability is correct. The clients are supposed to accrue their expenses and associated liabilities annually. This glaring deficit implies somebody was paid off in the earlier audits to make things look better. Either that or the School District Supervisor's brother did the audits.
Such a policy will protect inept and corrupt officials. Mostly Democrats.
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