It has been 100 days since Representative Gress requested financial records from the Tolleson Union High School District. According to Gress, the district has not provided electronic copies of the records, demanded over $26,000 in fees, and ignored requests for clarification. He stated, “It has been 100 days since I asked for basic financial records from the Tolleson Union High School District. In that time, the district has refused to provide electronic copies, demanded more than $26,000 in fees meant to discourage oversight, and ignored repeated clarifications. No other public entity in Arizona has ever tried to block access to routine financial information.”
Gress emphasized the legislature’s responsibility to oversee taxpayer spending and raised concerns about transparency: “The Legislature has a duty to review how taxpayer dollars are used. When a district refuses to turn over purchase orders and financial transactions, it raises serious questions. Tolleson voters already expressed deep concern by rejecting the district’s bond and override in November by a wide margin. Their message was clear: restore accountability.”
He called on the governing board of Tolleson Union High School District to act promptly: “The district’s governing board should direct staff to produce the records without delay. Exporting purchase order data from financial software is straightforward and regularly done by other districts in a matter of days. A 100-day refusal to cooperate is unacceptable and cannot continue.”
Gress said legislative efforts would persist until there is compliance: “The Legislature will continue pressing for these records until they are produced. Taxpayers deserve answers, and they deserve them now.”
Representative Gress originally requested transaction data from Tolleson Union on August 26 after an audit hearing regarding district finances and sent a follow-up letter on September 17. The district has yet to comply.
Carbone was elected as a Republican representative for Arizona’s 25th House District in 2023, succeeding Michelle Udall.
