Press Release • Ohio Auditor of State
Performance Audit of Caldwell Exempted Village School District Identifies $613,000 in Potential Savings
Columbus – More than $613,000 in potential savings for the Caldwell Exempted Village School District (Noble County) was identified in a performance audit released today by Auditor of State Dave Yost. The recommendations for savings range from staff reductions to renegotiating its football field contract.
“No school district should be in the red,” Auditor Yost said. “Caldwell Schools is taking the right steps toward fiscal stability using this performance audit as a guide.”
The audit recommends the district reduce general education teaching staff to within 20 percent of state minimum standards and educational service personnel to the state minimum standards. These reductions could save the district $321,300 annually. During the audit, the district eliminated three positions for fiscal year 2013-2014. Eliminating paid lunch breaks for classified staff could save an additional $50,000 annually.
Approximately $152,700 could be saved annually if employee contributions to health insurance were increased to 15 percent of premium costs. Currently, employee contributions toward premiums fall short of those paid by employees at similar districts.
The Caldwell Exempted Village School District was placed in fiscal caution by the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) in September 2012 due to projected deficits in its five-year forecast. The district projected a FY 2014-2015 year-end deficit of approximately $1,384,860. Upon the fiscal caution declaration, ODE asked the Auditor of State’s office to conduct a performance audit of the district.
The Caldwell Exempted Village School District has taken steps toward relieving its fiscal caution status by utilizing audit recommendations. Additionally, the district passed a 12-mill replacement and 7-mill additional levy measure in May 2013.
A full copy of this performance audit may be accessed online.
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The Auditor of State’s office, one of five independently elected statewide offices in Ohio, is responsible for auditing more than 5,800 state and local government agencies. Under the direction of Auditor Dave Yost, the office also provides financial services to local governments, investigates and prevents fraud in public agencies and promotes transparency in government.
Contact:
Carrie Bartunek
Press Secretary
614-644-1111