By Gerri Miller
Staff Writer
Elmore County School Superintendent Richard Dennis said a recent audit of his department does not show that it lost $1.65 million on “sketchy bids” or that the money was intentionally misused as reported in the media today.
The Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts said in its report that the Board failed to record energy savings upgrades for lighting projects at the local schools in the amount of $1,659,123.00; construction in progress in the amount of $24,050.42 for the Redland Elementary School’s track project and land improvements in the amount of $40,000 for the donation of the Wetumpka Elementary School’s playground equipment. “This resulted in capital assets totaling $1,723,173.42 not being properly recorded on the financial statements,” the audit said.
Elmore County failed to record the county-wide LED lighting project debt transactions of $1,659,123, Dennis said. “This was a finding that was missed in 2018 but was recorded in the 2019 financial records,” he said.
Dennis said he wants Elmore County residents to understand that during the refinancing of the $1.65 million project “A simple accounting error was made. No money was lost or stolen,” he said.
In other findings:
- The Board improperly coded grant projects at two elementary schools – a walking track and a playground.
- Elmore County failed to properly document overtime paid for two employees that worked to process Public Education Employees Health Insurance Plan (PEEHIP) reimbursements. “PEEHIP said that money collected from employees for health insurance had to be returned, Dennis said. “At the time we didn’t follow the guidelines that the examiner had suggested, and two employees were overpaid. It was just a mistake that was fixed and no funds were lost in the transaction,” he said.
- Elmore County investigated an employee for misuse of school funds for personal use and reported the situation to the Elmore County Sheriff’s Department, the Alabama Ethics Commission, ALSDE, and the Alabama Department of Examiners. “Approximately $4,000 to $6,000 was unaccounted for in a specific school account. This case is currently awaiting a court date,” Dennis said.
“It is very disconcerting and disappointing that the facts in this matter have been reported in such a way as to imply or insinuate that we have intentionally mishandled, mismanaged, and/or misreported the use of public funds for any reason,” Dennis said. “Elmore County Public Schools has gained the trust of Elmore County taxpayers because we handle all aspects of school operations responsibly and with integrity.”
The State Examiners Audit Report is scheduled to be presented at the Elmore County Board of Education Meeting on Monday, May 18, 2020, at 2 p.m.
