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After heated public comment, Lee County supervisors vote to seek countywide forensic audit of school finances
Summary
Following sustained public comment alleging unreconciled statements and missing deposits at Lee County schools, the board voted to issue an RFP for a countywide forensic audit and to ask the school board to share the cost; the motion carried by voice vote.
Citizens used public-expression time at the Aug. 19 Lee County Board of Supervisors meeting to make a series of allegations about school finances and oversight failures. Speakers said bank statements were not reconciled from February through June, that deposits were missing, and that fraudulent checks had been reported to the high school bank. One public commenter urged the board to rescind the budget under a cited state code provision and said supervisors who voted for the recent tax increase should resign.
Randy College and other public commenters described what they said were lapses in administrator oversight, including missing reconciliations during months when alleged theft occurred. Donnie Bumburger and others recounted historical personnel and discipline issues in schools; several speakers called for accountability.
Tim Bartador, who identified himself as representing School Board District 1, acknowledged public concern but said the state police investigation constrained what officials could disclose. Bartador said the alleged theft occurred after the board approved the budget and that legally permissible information would be released when available; he also expressed that he wanted the responsible party prosecuted.
In response to public concern and a list of alleged procedural lapses (carryover amounts, unexplained equipment rentals, potential nepotism and unreconciled statements), a supervisor moved to issue a request for proposals for a countywide forensic audit and to ask the school board to share the cost. The motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. The board discussed funding sources for the audit, including a joint county-school account the transcript referenced at roughly $500,000 as a possible funding source for an agreed split of costs.
The board directed staff to draft the RFP language and a letter to the school board asking for a shared-cost arrangement; supervisors agreed the audit should be performed by an outside firm with no prior relationship to local officials or the school system.
