The Lee County Clerk & Comptroller’s Office and the School District of Lee County are proud to announce a new partnership designed to strengthen trust, enhance transparency, and protect taxpayer dollars.

Beginning, November 24, the Clerk’s Inspector General will begin accepting tips for suspected fraud, waste, and abuse claims directed against the Lee County School District. Investigations, when conducted, will be at no cost to the taxpayer or the School District.

The Inspector General is a department within the Clerk’s office that conducts internal audits and fraud, waste and abuse investigations of the operations and financial records of Lee County government agencies, departments, employees and others under the authority of the Board of County Commissioners, Port Authority and Clerk.

“I couldn’t be more excited to offer our Inspector General services to the School District and partner with them on this initiative,” Clerk Karnes said. “The Superintendent and School Board are the experts on running schools and they do an excellent job. As the county Comptroller and Auditor – we are the experts on audits and investigations, which is why we wanted to all come together for the best interest of the taxpayers we serve. This partnership is about saving taxpayer dollars while promoting accountability and integrity in our community.”

“We are grateful to the Clerk’s Office for extending the Inspector General’s services to the School District,” said Superintendent Dr. Denise Carlin. “This partnership reinforces our commitment to transparency, accountability, and the responsible use of taxpayer dollars. By working together, we can ensure that our resources remain focused on providing safe, high‑quality learning environments for every student in Lee County.”

The Inspector General’s online hotline provides an anonymous way for district employees and others to submit tips on fraud, waste, and abuse through the Clerk’s website www.leeclerk.org/reportfraud. Once the tip is received, the Inspector General will begin its independent review of the claims to determine if an investigation is warranted. If an investigation is deemed warranted, the Clerk’s office will provide written notice to the School Board and the Superintendent. All investigative reports are published on the Clerk’s website.

Learn more about the Clerk’s Inspector General Department at www.leeclerk.org/IG.