FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Luke Byars (803)734-2080

Columbia, 11/30/99. Lieutenant Governor Bob Peeler, Chairman of the South Carolina Performance Audit Committee, announced the committee’s unanimous decision to audit the Charleston County School District today. This is the second school district in South Carolina to be audited by the committee, Berkeley County School District was audited earlier this year.

Lieutenant Governor Peeler said, "Lawmakers have put a major emphasis on education funding over the last few years, and many taxpayers simply want to know where their money goes. This audit will hopefully provide greater accountability and savings for the citizens of Charleston County and the State of South Carolina."

The audit will be conducted by KPMG-Peat Marwick and will cost $275,000. The Charleston County School District has agreed to pay $125,000 of this total cost. The primary objectives of the audit will be to identify ways that the school district can save funds, improve management and increase efficiency and effectiveness. Auditors from KPMG-Peat Marwick predicted that the audit will take at least four months to complete or by April 2000. Auditors will begin initial interviews in the next few weeks.

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