Expects Committee Approved Audit on Dept of Public Instruction’s Lack of Oversight of School Finances to be Released this Spring
MADISON – Senator Eric Wimberger (R-Oconto) co-chair of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, issued the following statement after it came out that Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) will once again lose funding over late financial reports:
“It has been over a year since this mess with MPS began, and despite Governor Evers spending $2.5 million on two separate private audits, the district’s financial situation is no better today than it was last year. Governor Evers, Superintendent Underly, and MPS officials continue to ensure that this situation lacks the transparency that Milwaukee taxpayers deserve and expect.
“For us to have a true understanding of how this situation got so dire, we must look at how state regulators at DPI neglected their duties, and the news today reaffirms that suspicion. The audit approved last session by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee is being performed by highly capable public servants who are accountable to the taxpayers, and I look forward to seeing the results.”
Last year, it was announced that MPS would be losing millions in state aid due to late financial reports. DPI failed to disclose this information until after voters had approved a $252 million referendum for the district, leaving many taxpayers feeling deceived by state and local officials.
In response to this, the Joint Legislative Audit Committee approved an audit to evaluate the processes that DPI has in place to review submitted financial data and audit findings from school districts. In addition to evaluating DPI’s policies and procedures for reviewing submitted financial data, the audit will “analyze the timeliness with which school districts submit financial information to DPI and determine the actions taken by DPI to obtain late information.” According to the Legislative Audit Bureau’s website, the audit is expected to be completed by Spring 2025.
