Consultants’ fees on agenda

Teresa Hinds

Monday, July 8, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

The Clark County School Board is expected to decide at its Tuesday meeting how much of up to $40,000 in outstanding fees it will pay to the authors of a controversial special education audit.

A decision on payment of bills submitted by Ed Sontag and David Rostetter was originally slated for the June 25 meeting. Trustees, however, voted to table the issue until after the special June 26 School Board meeting, at which the consultants answered questions about the audit.

Sontag has submitted a bill for $23,900, and Rostetter has invoiced the district for $11,780. In addition, the auditors are requesting to be paid $500 a day plus expenses for their attendance at the June 26 meeting.

District staff is recommending payment.

The district has already paid more than $71,000 for the audit.

Also on Tuesday's agenda is discussion of reconfiguration of the proposed construction bond issue, providing it was approved today by the Debt Management Commission.

School Board members were to ask the commission to approve Part A and Part B of the 1996 bond proposal. Part A would raise $643 million for campus construction and rehabilitation. Part B would raise another $173 million.

In June, the debt panel rejected the entire package, claiming it would raise property taxes dangerously close to the state-mandated ceiling. The panel said approval of the entire $816 million would compromise the commission's ability to approve bond sales for other community services, such as sewer and water projects.

The debt commission indicated it would approve Part A but not Part B. Still, the school district has asked for reconsideration of both parts.

The School Board meeting is set for 5:30 p.m. at the Education Center, 2832 E. Flamingo Road.