IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – A new audit shows Iowa City school leaders moved $38 million between internal funds without required board approval, and auditors said that violated state law. The fiscal year 2024 audit also found Iowa City Schools allowed its payroll department to enter new employees into the system, change pay and process payroll with little oversight. Auditors said strong financial systems need checks and balances. The audit identified the payroll issue as a material weakness. The audit said the weakness might be one reason the district over-hired staff, stressing cash flow resources and contributing to problems the district is now facing. Overall, auditors identified five material weaknesses, the most serious level of concern for internal financial controls. The audit also flagged no documentation showing how the district spent a half-million-dollar special education federal grant. Auditors found the district transferred $38 million between internal funds without board approval and without required interest calculations. Auditors also found the district ended the year with a roughly $1 million deficit in the Student Activity Fund. District leaders said they have already started making changes. They hired a CFO with experience and specialized accreditation for school finances. The district said it has also added accountants, separated financial responsibilities among staff and improved deadline adherence. The audit covered fiscal year 2024. The district is also working on its 2025 audit. Fiscal year 2026 ends at the end of this month. After that, the district has nine months to finish that audit, a goal officials said is attainable.
LINN COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) – The Linn County Sheriff’s Office says a man has serious injuries after he was thrown from a motorcycle Tuesday night. The sheriff’s office says at 9:21 p.m., authorities got a report of a crash on Highway 100 near S. 31st Street. Crews say a 23-year-old man from Cedar Rapids was going west on 100 when his motorcycle hit a construction cone. The rider was thrown from the motorcycle and landed on the pavement. He was taken by ambulance to a local hospital.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Cedar Rapids started developing quiet zones at busy downtown railroad crossings two years ago. The goal was to reduce train horn noise, but the sounds of the horns are still waking some people up. The issue is most prominent along 1st Avenue near the DoubleTree by Hilton. Hotel guests continue to complain about the overnight trains. Hotel guests have earplugs and noise-canceling devices to help with the sound. Federal law requires trains to blow their horns at railroad crossings. The city is updating crossings to reduce how often trains use their horns. More crossing upgrades are planned, including in the NewBo district. Several workers told KCRG the train noise wasn’t a big issue for their experience in the district, but it may be an issue for people living in nearby apartment complexes. The quiet zone work is expected to continue through 2030.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – The Cedar Rapids Police Department will create a real-time operations center after City Council approved a $14 million investment in new technology and equipment for the department. Police Chief David Dostal said police departments typically lag behind in keeping up with advancing technology. He said the money will help the department keep up. The money will be used to pay for a 10-year contract for a package from Axon. The package includes upgrades to body cameras, squad car cameras, drones and more. The Police Department said drones will not be used for surveillance, but for faster responses to incidents. Body cameras will also have live-feed and language translation capabilities. The system will also be used for other city departments, including the fire department and Animal Care and Control.
