ROCKLAND, Maine — The audit of the Rockland-area school district’s finances for last year proves that former Superintendent Lew Collins was correct in his budget projections and that criticisms leveled against him by the former RSU 13 business manager were way off, the auditor told board members Thursday night.
Auditor Ron Smith presented the final audit report for the 2013-14 budget year for Regional School Unit 13, which was then accepted by the board.
In the fall of 2013, then RSU 13 business manager Scott Vaitones sent a memo to board members, claiming that unbudgeted hirings by Collins would result in $500,000 in overspending in the special education budget.
Collins also came under criticism for a budget freeze he imposed.
Smith said the audit completely vindicates Collins.
Collins resigned in February, citing a lack of support from the board. The board settled with Collins by paying him $100,000.
“I am pleased that the audit report confirms what I said last year, that there would be no cost overruns in the education side of the budget. People can and do make false allegations all the time but the rush to judgement by some members of the Board was quite unfortunate. I enjoyed my time at RSU 13 and made some good friends there. I wish the students and their families all the best,” Collins said Thursday night when contacted by the BDN.
Vaitones was put on paid leave for three months by Collins who sought to have the business manager fired for what Collins said were numerous financial errors. Vaitones struck a deal with the district in which he returned to work, but his contract was not renewed when it expired June 30.
The auditor said Thursday that the final numbers for last year’s budget showed the special education budget was significantly underspent. He said the money saved in that department was able to help bridge a major deficit in the food services budget.
Smith also praised Collins’ actions to deal with financial problems in the food services budget.
“He was wise to have put in the budget freeze that he did,” Smith said.
The food service deficit that had built up over the past few years had reached nearly $500,000. The auditor said that deficit has been paid off with last year’s under spending in other accounts. He said the food service is still running in the red this year, however, but should be less than previous years. He urged the board to find a creative solution to the continuing problem of food services spending more than budgeted each year.
An email seeking comment was sent to Vaitones on Thursday evening but a response was not immediately returned.