A staff change in the Auditor of State’s office will delay Mansfield City Schools’ release from fiscal emergency by at least six months.
The Financial Planning and Supervision Commission, which has overseen district finances for the last two and a half years, got that word during its monthly meeting on Tuesday.
Laura Brown, a project manager in the Auditor of State’s Canton office, had worked closely with the district on a schedule that would have led to release from fiscal emergency within a few months. However, Brown left the auditor’s office this week to accept other employment.
She was replaced by Steve Moomaw, who met with the commission Tuesday.
“I have 18 other projects due to be completed by the end of November,” Moomaw said. “I know this isn’t what you want to hear but the worst-case scenario is that we won’t get started on reviewing your five-year forecast until December.
“Mansfield City Schools will be our No. 1 priority if we can get staff freed up sooner. That may happen, maybe not. We will do whatever we can to get you out as soon as we can. That’s all I can promise at this time.”
Commission member Mark Brunn of Mansfield asked Moomaw how long it would take for the district to gain release once Moomaw’s office has completed its review.
“A couple of months,” Moomaw said.
Only Auditor of State Dave Yost, who placed the district in fiscal emergency in November 2013, can grant release.
District Treasurer Robert Kuehnle emphasized that the delay is solely the result of the change in the auditor’s Canton office.
“Our numbers are strong. Our five-year forecast is strong,” he said. “Laura Brown had agreed with us that we might be out of fiscal emergency as soon as this fall. We’re disappointed by the delay but release is coming. We just have to wait until the regional auditor’s office completes its required review.”