LAKEVILLE — The Regional Finance Subcommittee has decided more guidance is needed before the group can determine more specifics on how to conduct an audit of the Freetown Lakeville School district.

Freetown Lakeville School Committee members and town officials agreed that an audit was necessary after shortfalls of nearly $800,000 were discovered in the School district’s 2025 budget. 

Community members have also voted in favor of conducting an audit, according to Regional Finance Subcommittee Chair Crystal Ng. 

At the subcommittee’s meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 28, members revisited questions as to what type of audit needs to be conducted and what areas the audit should focus on. 

During past discussions, the group determined that a forensic audit would not be necessary because forensic audits are used in cases where fraud or corruption is suspected, according to Lakeville Town Administrator Robert Nunes. 

However the discussion at the subcommittee’s Aug. 28 meeting revealed that members still have questions regarding audit type and scope. 

The group determined that the best course of action would be to call auditing agencies for guidance to help answer some of these questions. 

During the meeting, members questioned whether it made sense to hire a budget consultant beforehand to help determine the nature of the audit. 

Freetown Town Administrator Deborah Pettey was present at the meeting and suggested an audit be the first step. 

“I think you start with the audit of the [administration’s] central office. That seems to be where the bulk of the issues may lie.”

Superintendent Alan Strauss reported that the School district had agreed to fund an audit, not a budget consultant. 

Subcommittee Chair Ng concurred. “We don’t have any money for a consultant—it’s going to have to be audit first,” she said.

Ng directed that phone calls be made out to audit firms as a next step. 

The district’s new Director of Finance Operations Jack Higgins stated that he would also be reaching out to local businesses and finance committee members from both towns for advice on best budgeting practices.