Metro Detroit school districts among dozens yet to file audits

Shawn D. Lewis / The Detroit News

Hazel Park --Nearly 70 of Michigan's 840 school districts have not yet turned in their financial audit reports to the Michigan Department of Education as of 4 p.m. Monday. Audits are due every Nov. 15, but since that day fell on a Sunday, the deadline was extended a day. If they wait too much longer, they risk losing state aid.

"State funding can be withdrawn if districts don't turn in their audits on time," said Gloria Suggitt, of the Michigan Department of Education Office of Audits. "State funding probably will be allocated again near the end of November, but if they do get them in, the funding will be reinstated." Yearly audits conducted by independent auditors are required by the state. Auditors review how districts handle their finances and offer recommendations on what could be done better. There also are findings involving significant deficiencies that must be addressed in a corrective action plan.

Among the districts that missed the audit reports deadline include Bloomfield Hills, Inkster, Highland Park, Garden City, Oak Park Fraser and Hazel Park.

The Hazel Park School District business services manager said their tardiness is due to a number of reasons.

"I'm relatively new here and we're in the process of going through a new finance and payroll system so it's taking up time," said Steve Watripont. "We're trying to save money, like no overtime, and the auditor was great with us." He added, "We're real close to getting it ready and should have it out no later than the end of the week."

Watripont said the district's recommendations involved their deficit. "We were in a deficit of $734,000 last year," he said.

Calls to Bloomfield Hills were not returned.

slewis@detnews.com (734) 462-2190