WTOP: Audit finds ‘off the books’ account used by vendors to pay Montgomery Co. schools staff

Nearly a year after Montgomery County, Maryland, police reported they were investigating “possible financial improprieties” in the county school system’s transportation department, a new state audit offers details on what generated its investigation.

According to the September 2022 report by the Maryland Office of Legislative Audits, the Montgomery County school system’s own internal audit showed “questionable purchases” for gift cards, furniture and other items shipped to an unnamed transportation manager’s home.

The state audit also reports that Montgomery County Public Schools also discovered an “off the books account” maintained by a transportation vendor outside the control of MCPS’ Office of Finance. The report doesn’t identify the vendor, but states that the account that was used to make payments to several MCPS employees to buy goods and services in a way that was designed to get around the school system’s “established policies and procedures.”..

Audit finds ‘off the books’ account used by vendors to pay Montgomery Co. schools staff - WTOP News