Outside experts who help oversee audits and finances in San Diego Unified agreed unanimously today: Cutting the fraud hotline is a bad idea, even if it saves some money up front.
Getting rid of the hotline was one of many recommendations from an internal team that scrubbed the San Diego Unified budget to find savings as it faces down a deficit that could run up to roughly $200 million.
County Treasurer and Tax Collector Dan McAllister, who chairs the school district audit committee, said it didn’t make sense to cut the hotline. Audit director Andrea Niehaus estimates that it cost $11,000 but has helped save more than it cost.
McAllister plans to give their recommendation to the school board on Friday.