Auditor General looking into payments to charter schools

(Harrisburg) -- Pennsylvania's new auditor general says improper payments to charter schools may have cost state taxpayers millions of dollars.  

Auditor General Eugene DePasquale has released audits of six charters that cited improper lease reimbursements totaling more than $550,000 over four years, mostly involving property leased from organizations with direct ties to the schools.

DePasquale said the cost to taxpayers could escalate to millions if the practice turns out to be widespread among the more than 150 other Pennsylvania charter schools.

The audited schools are in Berks, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Luzerne, Mercer, and Monroe counties.

A spokesman says state Education Secretary Ron Tomalis will review the audit findings. A call seeking comment from the Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools was not immediately returned.