Beaumont ISD owes state $1.5M for overestimating attendance
The Beaumont school district --already heading into budget season short $8 million because of an embezzlement scandal and the loss of industrial tax revenue -- now owes the state $1.5 million.
Bill Lenhart, managing principal of WCL Enterprises, the Houston-based consultant firm hired to clean up the district's finance department, told trustees Monday night that BISD overestimated its average attendance rate this past school year.
The Texas Education Agency allocates funds to individual school districts based on the average number of students who attend school each day.
Because BISD reported more students than were actually enrolled, the district will have to return $1.5 million, Lenhart said.
More at http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/education/article/BISD-owes-state-1-5M-for-overestimating-5472876.php .
[font color=green]The school district had $4 million embezzled, lost another $4 million in property taxes when ExxonMobil successfully challenged their assessment and has paid for increased litigation expenses.[/font]