HART'S BOARD CALLS FOR AUDITOR BUILDING COSTS FAR OVER BUDGET.Byline: ALEX DOBUZINSKIS Staff Writer SANTA CLARITA Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, -- Spurred by a report of millions of dollars in cost overruns on modernization projects, the William S. Hart Union High School District will bring in an independent auditor Independent Auditor An external auditor with a certified public accounting designation that qualifies him or her to provide an auditor's report. Notes: These auditors aren't affiliated with the company being audited. . In his last days on the job, an ousted assistant superintendent Assistant Superintendent, or Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), was a rank used by police forces in the British Empire. It was usually the lowest rank that could be held by a European officer, most of whom joined the police at this rank. reported last month that two of three school-modernization projects were over budget. With that official gone, the school board wants a better grip on construction costs. ``None of us in the community -- or certainly in the district -- wants to spend more money than we need to, or have to, to complete a project,'' said school board member Steven Sturgeon sturgeon, primitive fish of the northern regions of Europe, Asia, and North America. Unlike evolutionarily advanced fishes, it has a fine-grained hide, with very reduced scalation, a mostly cartilaginous skeleton, upturned tail fins, and a mouth set well back on the . Rory Livingston, former assistant superintendent for business services, reported last month that the Arroyo Seco Junior High modernization project was $13.9 million over budget. A $4.7 million cost overrun was reported in the modernization of Canyon High. At its Wednesday night meeting, the district school board announced it will order a full outside audit of construction projects. ``I don't think there's been any indication that somebody took the money,'' said school board member Dennis King. But he said the Arroyo Seco project is one that led to ``total frustration.'' Ballooning construction costs played a role in the budget overruns, officials said. But there have also been costly delays, as Livingston's report detailed. At Arroyo Seco, work had to be redone re·done v. Past participle of redo. because of bad planning, and the bankruptcy of a construction company caused further problems. The board decided earlier this year to let Livingston go, with four years left on his contract. Livingston got $234,000 in severance pay Severance Pay Compensation that an employer gives to someone who is about to lose their job. Notes: Severance pay is not always paid to employees. It depends on the situation in which the employee is losing their job and whether legislation requires severance to be paid. , including 18 months salary and vacation leave. The school board kept him as a consultant for ongoing construction projects. ``Obviously we wanted to make a change,'' King said. ``And as we started in the process, we just wanted to have the option (that) if we wanted to call on him to answer some questions he would be available.'' A modernization project at Saugus High is $444,184 under budget. Next week, the board is expected to choose the independent auditor to examine school-modernization projects. The auditor's report Auditor's Report Recorded in the annual report, the auditor's report tests to see that a corporation's financial statements comply with GAAP. This is sometimes referred to as the clean opinion. Notes: Most auditor's reports consist of three paragraphs. is expected back in August. alex.dobuzinskis(at)dailynews.com (661) 257-5253 |
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