Politics & Government

School Audit, Bond Legislation to Repair Schools Gets the Green Light

The North Kingstown Town Council approved an audit of the school department and bond legislation for a $6.4-million bond to repair the district's schools.

The North Kingstown Town Council moved quickly in its special meeting Monday night, looking to find a solution to the . The council unanimously approved a $22,850 contract to independent auditor Nadeau Wadovick LLP of Warwick to analyze the department's finances and find a remedy to the estimated $1.2-million deficit the schools are facing.

Last week, both the town and school department were in Washington County Superior Court after news broke that the school .

(a letter that, due to the anticipated shortfall, "respectfully urged" them not to approve contracts under Rhode Island General Law 16-9-1) committee members approved a new phone service contract with Cox Communications and the purchase of a new truck. In a consent order, the school department now has to seek authorization from the town's finance director for expenditures that are outside of the course of ordinary business.

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According to Town Manager Michael Embury, auditors are ready to begin the process as early as Tuesday in order to complete the audit before January's preliminary injunction.

The council also authorized the town's bond counsel to draft up legislation for a . A good chunk of the bond would go toward repairing the roof at which, according to one report, "could fail at any time." Initially, in a 3-2 vote in November. Last Tuesday, the measure narrowly passed 4-3.

Find out what's happening in North Kingstownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The special election for the bond issue is projected for May 3, 2012.


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