THE FINAL RECEIPT: MANCHESTER COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
Well, dear readers, I said I would give Manchester's audits one final look before closing the ledger. I'm glad I did. Manchester Community Schools' 2022-23 audit was clean. No material weaknesses were reported.
But the district's newest audit tells a different story.
The June 30, 2025 audit reports:
A MATERIAL WEAKNESS IN INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING.
The finding involved several year-end accounting adjustments that the auditor said were material to the financial statements.
Among them was a particularly large one:
💰 $4.55 MILLION
The auditor reported that checks had been backdated in the current year, causing cash and accounts payable in the 2024 Bond Capital Projects Fund to be understated by approximately $4.55 million.
And the auditor identified the underlying condition rather plainly:
"lack of management oversight."
Now, an important distinction.
I am NOT suggesting the phrase "backdated checks" means misconduct. The auditor identified this as an accounting and internal-control problem, and that is exactly how I am reporting it.
Management agreed with the finding and said new year-end closing procedures, processes and system controls are being implemented, with remediation expected by June 30, 2026.
That is the receipt.
No embellishment required.
And with that, I think Lady Budgetdown can close Manchester's ledger for the day. 🪶
Source: Manchester Community Schools, Audited Financial Statements, year ended June 30, 2025 — Finding 2025-001
With receipts and respect.
#LadyBudgetdown #ManchesterCommunitySchools #SchoolFinance #FiscalAccountability #PublicRecords #FollowTheMoney #WithReceiptsAndRespect