District found a $603,000 deficit and ordered a forensic audit

What happened

The acting SAU 6 business administrator told the board that years of wrong financial reports left Unity with a cumulative deficit of about $603,000 ($549,000 general fund, $54,000 food service). Revenue had been overestimated and the tax rate set too low. On November 12, 2025 the board authorized a forensic audit. He said he was talking with law enforcement about possible fraud affecting Claremont and Unity.

Why it matters to families

Taxpayers are covering past mistakes. The December 2025 tax rate rose $1.72 (17.4%) just to fix the 2025 rate error, and the old deficit still had to be paid off separately.

The evidence

November 12, 2025 draft minutes (deficit figures, forensic audit vote, law-enforcement remark); January 14, 2026 draft minutes (17.37% tax-rate increase).

The source