Texas firm wants more money to finish Fayette County schools audit
A Texas-based company hired by the Fayette County school board to complete an audit of the district’s finances wants an additional $35,000.
The Fayette County Board of Education is being asked to approve the expenditure at Monday’s monthly school board meeting, according to the agenda.
The previously approved a contract with Texas-based firm of Weaver and Tidwell was for 500 hours of work for $121,650, according to board documents. The contract was signed Jan. 7.
The review was to provide a deep-dive assessment of internal budget and financial controls, processes and departmental operations amid the district’s budget crisis.
“Due to the complexity of the audit and the many changes since the inception of the contract, the firm needs approximately one hundred more hours to complete the audit, at a cost not to exceed $35,000,” according to a document included in the board’s Monday agenda.
Weaver and Tidwell said the additional fees will not top $35,000.
“The total fee for our services is determined by the complexity of the work performed and the tasks required. As such, the additional resulting fee for this engagement addendum will not exceed $35,000,” the Weaver and Tidwell letter said.
District officials have said finances have been misstated for years and have launched multiple investigations to determine what went wrong and why. The Weaver and Tidwell audit is one of several ongoing investigations into the district’s finances. School officials have previously said the audit will be completed in the coming months.
State Auditor Allison Ball’s office is also conducting a special examination of the district. It’s not clear when the state auditor’s review will be completed.
The district has been marred in controversy for weeks. Superintendent Demetrus Liggins, who was hired in 2021, was placed on administrative leave earlier this month. Liggins has now challenged the board’s authority to place him on leave and is demanding his job back.
