State Representative Matt Gress (R-AZ) says the Tolleson Union High School District has refused to provide financial information for 100 days, despite multiple requests.
The concern kicked off back in July during a hearing about the Tolleson Union High School District's finances. Representative Gress, who chairs the House Education Committee, was looking into a deal the district made with the Isaac School District.
After that hearing, Gress asked Tolleson Union for copies of their spending records on August 26. He wanted to see their ledgers, purchase orders, contracts, and vendor payments from the last two school years.
However, that was 100 days ago, and he still doesn't have the records.
Instead of providing the files, the district said it would charge more than $26,000 for electronic copies of the records. According to Gress, the hefty fee appears intended to discourage his oversight efforts.
He sent another letter in September trying to clarify what he needed. The district still hasn't given him anything.
Gress’s Initiative
"It has been 100 days since I asked for basic financial records from the Tolleson Union High School District," Gress said. "No other public entity in Arizona has ever tried to block access to routine financial information."
He pointed out that exporting this kind of data is something other school districts do all the time, usually within a few days. "A 100-day refusal to cooperate is unacceptable and cannot continue," Gress continued.
Additionally, voters in the Tolleson area might've been thinking the same thing. In November, they rejected the district's request for a bond and budget override by a significant margin. Gress emphasizes that it shows people want more accountability from the district.
Gress plans to continue pursuing the records and ensuring that his legislative authority gives him the right to access this information. Moreover, he's committed to pressing the district until it complies.
