Horne seeks to audit Tucson school district over teacher bonus money 

Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne today asked the state Auditor General requesting an audit to investigate a Tucson school district’s use of funds intended for new raises for teachers and other employees.
Allegations have been made that Tucson Unified School District used money provided in the state budget to pay pre-existing contracts, giving the district the ability to divert the new funds away from teacher raises. Mr. Horne has asked the Auditor General for a determination of whether this constituted a violation of law, and therefore a violation of the Uniform System of Financial Reporting, which is administered by the Auditor General.
“If the alleged facts are confirmed,” Mr. Horne said, “I have requested a finding that the application of funds intended for new raises to pre-existing obligations constituted a violation of law, and therefore a violation of USFR.
A spokeswoman for the Arizona Department of Education said Mr. Horne’s office has received dozens of complaints from TUSD teachers, as well as a formal complaint from the TUSD employees’ bargaining unit.
A press release from Mr. Horne’s office cites A.R.S.