Reynolds questions Burrage investigation claim

CapitolBeatOK Staff Report

Published: 10-Sep-2010

State Rep. Mike Reynolds on Thursday (September 9) questioned why State Auditor Steve Burrage claims he needs to withhold the controversial Broken Arrow School Audit while he refers it to the Office of the Attorney General for possible prosecution.

“I was told last April by Burrage that he could not release the audit because he was giving this information to the attorney general. He is now making the same claim again,” said Reynolds, an Oklahoma City Republican.

On April 26, Reynolds issued a release discussing reports of a criminal investigation of the Broken Arrow school district. That information came from State Auditor Steve Burrage, Reynolds said in a press release sent to CapitolBeatOK.

The Broken Arrow school district has been a source of controversy since October 2007 when the school board fired Superintendent Jim Sisney. Sisney alleged he was fired because he discovered wrongful business practices between the school and a heating and air contractor.

Reynolds today called on Burrage to take a polygraph test and answer questions related to the Broken Arrow audit. Burrage has stated that he wants several individuals in his office to take polygraph tests to see if they leaked the information.

Reynolds said, “I believe the taxpayers deserve to have these inconsistencies addressed. If Burrage believes taking a polygraph test is appropriate, then he should lead by example. Burrage stood in front of my press conference two weeks ago and announced the audit, as well as all work papers, would be released on September 2.

“That was obviously not the truth and the taxpayers of Oklahoma as well as Broken Arrow deserve better.”