Several Monroe accounting errors found by state auditor

By John Bombatch, Staff Writer 8:53 PM Saturday, June 23, 2012

The state auditor’s office reported 14 accounting citations in the Monroe Local School District’s latest audit report.

“There is usually not anything listed on the audit report,” said Monroe Treasurer Holly Cahall, who was not the treasurer during the time of the fiscal 2011 audit. “But 14 (incidences) would seem like a significant number.”

When asked about the number of infractions the audit report listed, state auditor spokesman Mike Maurer said 14 is a higher than normal amount of citations.

“But the really important analysis is that some of the problems might way heavier than others. And the fact that the district is in a state of fiscal emergency is also a point of focus. It’s fair to say that Auditor (Dave) Yost expects that better financial reporting is expected here,” Maurer said.

Monroe faces a $2.2 million general fund debt and a $3.1 million legacy debt, which was caused by misspending of a bond retirement fund dating back to 2005, Cahall said.

The Ohio State Auditor placed the district into fiscal emergency status on May 9.

The school board agreed in May to place a $2.5 million, 7.05-mil five-year tax levy on the August ballot.

Mike Watson, the chairman of the state-appointed Monroe Local School District financial planning and supervision commission, said he wished not to comment on the state auditor’s findings until he could further analyze the entire report.

Monroe superintendent Elizabeth Lolli said she would not be available for comment until Monday.

Calls for comment from former Monroe treasurer Kelley Thorpe were not returned. Thorpe, currently the treasurer for Middletown City Schools, served as Monroe’s treasurer during the time of the audit.

Of the 14 findings in the report, three citations were for filing required paperwork late, and at least four other reported citations involved federal funds and grants — including stimulus money — that were either reported incorrectly, or placed in an improper fund.

“Now that we’ve been told this, we’ll be looked at a lot more closely,” Cahall said. “Maybe all of our grants will be audited. We’ve blown the trust with the state and federal government, and we’re considered a high risk now. But I’m confident that we’ll get it all fixed.”

The board’s next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m., Monday in the Monroe Elementary cafeteria.

Watson’s state-appointed fiscal emergency commission is next scheduled to meet at 2 p.m., July 2 also in the Elementary School cafeteria.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2851 or jbombatch@coxohio.com.