Tolleson Union High School District Chief Financial Officer Joyce Counsel and business services leaders presented a seven‑year summary of workload, staffing and recent audit improvements to the Governing Board.

Counsel said the business services team now consists of 20 positions and has added 27 new employees districtwide; she highlighted rising procurement activity, a 66% increase in construction dollars managed and steady growth in accounts‑payable functions. “Purchase orders consistently increase,” the director of business services said during the presentation, noting an average of 27 written quotes per year and a 32% rise in travel processing workload.

The nut graf: the presentation was intended to show how a relatively small team supports district operations and student services by managing procurement, construction dollars and compliance while improving audit outcomes.

Board members were shown a seven‑year workload chart that the business services director said reflects legislative and regulatory changes in procurement and increased construction management. Counsel said the district’s audit exception rate decreased from about 10.9% to roughly 10.59% over the period presented and described that drop as an important accomplishment given steady staffing levels.

Counsel and the director emphasized staff development: about 35% of team members are pursuing higher education and the department runs cross‑training and USFR (Uniform System of Financial Records) training over a year to maintain compliance. The presentation also referenced statewide networks and trainings the department participates in, including ASBO and other procurement programs.

The board offered brief remarks of appreciation. No formal action on business services staffing or budgets was recorded in the transcript segment for this presentation.