Williston Basin School District seeking private firm for audits

WILLISTON, N.D. (KUMV) - The Williston Basin School District is looking at hiring a private firm to finish audits from the last two years.

Superintendent Richard Faidley told the school board last week the state auditor’s office would not be able to complete the audits after its entire Fargo branch resigned. The district needs to complete audits from the 2023 and 2024 school years. Faidley said while he doesn’t know what it will cost, he can’t see a significant increase compared to past audits.

“I can’t speak to what that would be, but I would imagine based on the costs that the district paid for - the petition audit - it would be less than the petition audit,” said Faidley.

The district has been subject to several petition audits after locals had the state investigate financials. The most recent one was the 2021-22 school year, which found seven areas of concern, but no missing money. The board is expected to choose a firm sometime in November.