Proposal would audit Nevada's largest public schools

Following a proposal to audit Nevada's higher education system, a legislator introduced a bill Wednesday to audit the state's two largest primary and secondary school systems.

Assemblyman David Goldwater, D-Las Vegas, introduced AB162. The measure would mandate a performance audit of school districts in Washoe and Clark counties.

The audit would examine the fiscal dealings of the schools, and assess whether the money is being spent wisely.

"At a time when we are working to prevent cuts to important education programs because of our budget shortfalls, it is even more critical than ever that we make sure every dollar we spend produces the results we expect," Goldwater said in a written statement.

The performance audits would include the schools' financial management, facilities and personnel management, district organization and employee health plans, according to the bill.

The legislative auditor, who would perform the audits, would then have to report back to the Nevada Legislature during the 2005 session with the findings.

Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, recently proposed an audit of the Nevada University and Community College System. He also remarked on the state's need to track the dollars it allocates to schools.

"We're spending $1 billion (in the current, 2-year budget cycle) on the university system," Perkins said after his audit plan was introduced. "We need to know, when we appropriate that money, what it's being used for."