Proposed schools audit blasted

Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2002 | 11:16 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A potential audit of the Clark County School District would look into such areas as the solvency of the health insurance plan for teachers, the maintenance at the district's 245 schools and if the district is managing its money effectively.

Legislative auditors released a preliminary survey Tuesday of what should be examined in a full-scale audit of the Clark and Washoe school districts.

The Clark County School District had a $1.1 billion budget in 2001 with 90 percent going to salaries and benefits. It spent $5,145 per student.

The 2001 Legislature ordered its audit staff to consider an examination to find potential cost savings and ways to increase efficiency.

Walt Rulffes, deputy superintendent and chief financial officer of the School District, told the Legislative Audit Committee in a letter that many of these areas have already been audited.

"It would not be prudent use of public funds to incur additional costs for such duplicate audits," he said.

Assemblyman Joe Dini, D-Yerington, said the report substantiates the fact that the district can't keep up with the area's growth. He said the report "highlights a lot of things we know" including the need for more money in the public schools.

One area the auditors suggested be studied is whether the health plans provide adequate benefits at a reasonable cost to employees and taxpayers.

Rulffes said the district would support an examination that would lead to the district having authority over management of the funds for the employee health services.

The auditors also suggested an examination of the district's ability to adequately manage its money to ensure it is being used "effectively and efficiently."

Rulffes said a $75,000 audit is conducted annually by Kafoury, Armstrong & Co. that looks at the financial management of the district.

The tone of Rulffes' letters ruffled some legislators.

Sen. Joe Neal, D-Las Vegas, said the Legislature had the right to audit the district. He suggested future letters to the audit committee come from Superintendent Carlos Garcia or School Board President Sheila Moulton and not Rulffes.