Sec. 11.184. EFFICIENCY AUDIT. (a) For purposes of this section, "efficiency audit" means an investigation of the operations of a school district to examine fiscal management, efficiency, and utilization of resources.
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (b-1), the board of trustees of a school district shall conduct an efficiency audit before seeking voter approval to adopt a tax rate for the maintenance and operations of the district at an election held for that purpose and may not hold the election without complying with this section.
(b-1) The board of trustees of a school district all or part of which is located in an area declared a disaster area by the governor under Chapter 418, Government Code, may hold an election to seek voter approval to adopt a maintenance and operations tax rate during the two-year period following the date of the declaration without conducting an efficiency audit otherwise required under this section.
(c) A school district must pay for the costs associated with an efficiency audit required under this section.
(d) The board of trustees of a school district must select an auditor to conduct an efficiency audit under this section not later than four months before the date on which the district proposes to hold an election to adopt a maintenance and operations tax rate.
(e) The board of trustees of a school district may select for purposes of Subsection (d) the auditor that conducts the district's annual audit under Section 44.008 and may include the efficiency audit as part of the district's annual audit.
(f) The Legislative Budget Board shall establish guidelines identifying the scope and areas of investigation of an efficiency audit, including identification of resources being used effectively and efficiently and identification of cost savings or reallocations. The Legislative Budget Board may consult with the agency to identify areas in which school districts in this state have a demonstrated history of effectively utilizing resources to improve student achievement and achieve cost savings. The auditor selected by the board of trustees of a school district must follow the guidelines established by the Legislative Budget Board under this subsection.
(g) An auditor selected by the board of trustees of a school district must maintain independence from the district and complete the efficiency audit not later than three months after the date the auditor was selected.
(h) Before an election at which a school district seeks voter approval to adopt a tax rate the board of trustees of the school district must hold an open meeting to discuss the results of the efficiency audit conducted under this section. Not later than 30 days before the date of the election, the results of an efficiency audit conducted under this section must be posted on the school district's Internet website.
(i) A school district shall provide all documents, records, and personnel requested by the auditor as needed to conduct the audit in an efficient manner.
Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 943 (H.B. 3), Sec. 1.001, eff. January 1, 2020.
Structure Texas Statutes
Subtitle C - Local Organization and Governance
Subchapter D. Powers and Duties of Board of Trustees of Independent School District
Section 11.1511. Specific Powers and Duties of Board
Section 11.1512. Collaboration Between Board and Superintendent
Section 11.1513. Employment Policy
Section 11.1514. Social Security Numbers
Section 11.1515. Oversight of Academic Achievement
Section 11.1516. District Data on Academic Achievement
Section 11.1518. Trustee Information Posted on Website
Section 11.153. Sale of Minerals
Section 11.154. Sale of Property Other Than Minerals
Section 11.1541. Donation of Surplus Property
Section 11.1542. Open-Enrollment Charter School Offer for District Facility
Section 11.1543. Charter School Payment for Facilities Use or for Services
Section 11.155. Eminent Domain
Section 11.156. Donations to the Public Schools
Section 11.157. Contracts for Educational Services
Section 11.158. Authority to Charge Fees
Section 11.159. Member Training and Orientation
Section 11.160. Change of School District Name
Section 11.161. Frivolous Suit
Section 11.162. School Uniforms
Section 11.164. Restricting Written Information
Section 11.165. Access to School Campuses
Section 11.166. Operation on Campus of Institution of Higher Education
Section 11.167. Operation Outside District Boundaries
Section 11.168. Use of District Resources Prohibited for Certain Purposes; Exception
Section 11.169. Electioneering Prohibited
Section 11.170. Internal Auditor
Section 11.171. School District Grievance Policy
Section 11.174. Contract Regarding Operation of District Campus
Section 11.175. School Cybersecurity
Section 11.178. Prohibition Against Use of School District Resources for Hotel
Section 11.179. Sale of Alcoholic Beverages in Certain Leased District Facilities
Section 11.182. Board Improvement and Evaluation Tool
Section 11.184. Efficiency Audit
Section 11.185. Early Childhood Literacy and Mathematics Proficiency Plans
Section 11.186. College, Career, and Military Readiness Plans