2022 Arizona Revised Statutes
Title 15 - Education
§ 15-271 - Duties of auditor general for uniform financial records system; reporting requirements

15-271. Duties of auditor general for uniform financial records system; reporting requirements

A. The auditor general shall determine the accounting systems, accounting methods and accounting procedures for school districts to use.

B. The auditor general in conjunction with the department of education shall prescribe a uniform system of financial records for all school districts to use each fiscal year.

C. The uniform system of financial records prescribed by the auditor general shall:

1. Provide for adjustment in consideration of existing capabilities available at a reasonable cost to school districts.

2. Allow schools to maintain necessary records at a minimum cost.

3. Prescribe guidelines applicable to procurement practices for use by school districts for amounts less than those prescribed in section 15-213, subsection A.

4. Prescribe methods for apportioning revenues, including apportioning various revenues to maintenance and operations, capital outlay and adjacent ways.

5. Prescribe methods for apportioning revenues in excess of the revenue control limit in the same manner as the revenues in paragraph 4 of this subsection.

6. Prescribe guidelines for apportioning the pupil enrollment and attendance as provided in section 15-808, subsection F.

7. Provide the department of education, the auditor general, the governor and the legislature with sufficient uniform information to assist in determining equitable distribution of state aid to school districts.

8. Provide information, including at a minimum:

(a) The student count and maintenance and operation expenditures with separate subsections for regular education programs, special education programs and operating expenditures for pupil transportation.

(b) Capital outlay expenditures.

(c) Debt service and special projects of all school districts.

D. The auditor general shall inform any school district that fails to establish and maintain the uniform system of financial records and shall detail in writing the deficiencies of the school district system giving the district ninety days to correct the deficiencies.

E. The auditor general shall report to the department of education and the state board of education any school district that either fails to establish and maintain the uniform system of financial records prescribed by the auditor general or fails to correct deficiencies in the system within ninety days after receiving notice of the deficiencies. The auditor general shall detail in writing the deficiencies of the school district system in the auditor general's report to the department and the state board.

F. A school district may but is not required to maintain or provide financial records other than those prescribed by the auditor general.