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State Audit Finds Byron Schools Lacked Documentation for $59,552 in Credit Card Charges

The findings highlight a fiscal crisis that prompted leadership turnover alongside stricter purchasing controls.

Overview

  • The Office of the State Auditor reported that roughly 30% of the district’s reviewed credit card purchases in 2023–2024, totaling $59,552, lacked required receipts or itemization.
  • Auditors also identified at least $4,392 in gift card purchases, which they noted is generally unauthorized for local governments.
  • The undocumented spending occurred under former superintendent Mike Neubeck and former finance director Todd Lechtenberg, both of whom have since departed.
  • The report detailed broader distress, citing months of incomplete bank reconciliations, overdrafts to meet payroll, and a maxed $800,000 line of credit.
  • New superintendent Nate Walbruch implemented pre-payment itemization and finance approval along with a public budget dashboard, and voters approved referendums to add $1.85 million annually.