"It's the first information we've received in so long with any ounce of credibility," Finance Director Thomas Bruce said of DuTremble's work.

Ouch...

Be sure to get three quotes for anything over $200.

Ms. Busby is on administrative leave because she is a public employee. Any private sector employee who had reported a non-existent suplus, failed to recognize and/or report a deficit of $2.7 million and failed, according to Mr. Bruce, to so much as provide a beginning and ending balance on a cash flow report, would have long since been dismissed. We are now reportedly paying $80 per hour to Ms. Du Tremble while still paying Ms. Busby. Either the WED does not recognize malfeasance when they see it, or they are far too intmidated by the possibility of a suit by Ms. Busby. I don't think any employment contract would force tolerance of Ms Busby's mishandling of her responsibility.

Why am I not surprised as I read this?

Ms Busby should be ashamed of herself for taking a paycheck. She's known all along about the WED being in this mess, she's admitted to it. The taxpayers are paying the price of her malfeasance...so unfair.

No she didn't know until her and the audit company sat down and reviewed the misleading information at Mcfee

I have no idea what planet Robert is existing on. She's human to make a 3 million dollar mistake? Hello? When you hire people with higher degrees, you rely on them to have the smarts that the degree delivers, plus know your MATH!! They should immediately fire her. Afraid of a suit? on what grounds? being deceitful? BRING IT ON.. Enough is enough and I like many other taxpayers certainly don't want to have to pay more taxes on someone/s stupidity. Isn't withholding evidence an assessory? So maybe Robert should volunteer his time since he has all the answers.

well listening to the glorious tax payers of woonsocket you people don't have any answers to the problems,and i did not say i had all the answers i was saying sure $2.7 million deficit resulted but where is marc dubois in the blame or the former superintendent who had these hires made why aren't they getting crucified like Ms.Busby and if memory serves Mr.Dubois who served on fianance sub committee for WED got elected to the city council without a scratch! So don't be so quick to place blame when there are more important people who deserve blame than her

A thank you goes out to Mrs. Du Tremble. Whatever the taxpayers pay her, she is worth it. The city should reduce Ms Busby's check by the amount of money Mrs. DuTremble is being paid.

Mr. Lamarre, my comments did not addresss, nor were they intended to address, culpability for the deficit. The difference between Dr Gerardi, Chairman Dubois and Ms. Busby is that only Ms. Busby purported to be a professional accountant, the ONLY one in the employ of the WED. I'm not attempting to attach blame to her for the deficit, only the accounting. No qualified accountant could or would present a report such as a cash flow report without a beginning and ending balance. No capable accountant could possibly have failed to recognize a deficit of $2,700,000. Is it your contention that she has done a professional and thorough job? If so, how is it possible that "she didn't know until her (sic) and the audit company sat down"? Accountants are supposed to expose the existence of misleading information, not review it.

does anyone know how long Ms.Busby has been in this position? Why does she take the blame for the rest of the staff at mcfee who are supposed to help her out, oh wait because the city cut there budget by $6mil they can't afford to get her help,and if the taxpayer gets involved then it becomes a civil war over a simple calculation error SHE IS HUMAN AND WE DO MAKE MISTAKES as big as this one is

i wasn't referring to sandy's article i was referring to the woonsocket call where it staates that the CITY forced the school department to operarte under a $59 million budget when it was $66 million so there is where that money comes from,Why is it that the kids have to suffer everytime the city and the school department go at it,IT NEEDS TO STOP, KIDS OF WOONSOCKET SHOULD COME FIRST!!!!!!!!

Dr. D, blindsided by this financial fiasco, has the experience and expertise (MBA, Ph.D.) to make things right. Count on it.

Decisive, competent, and effective action would be welcome. As each day passes, any response will look less so.

Did the business manager for the school department get fired yet? She's still on paid leave? What an arrangement. She must be in Aruba with Dr. Geradi, Dr. Macera, Dr. D'Acchioli, and perhaps Ellie....for a deficit reunion.. This is pathetic..

What's that sound I hear in the distance, well gosh darnit: IT'S THE FEDS chasing down that big flushing sound coming from the WED!

From the Valley Breeze:

In light of the surprise $2.7 million deficit reported for FY 11, Gallogly has demanded that the city turn in year-to-date expenditure and cash flow reports for Fiscal Year 2012. A large deficit in the current year could trigger state intervention as it recently did in both Central Falls and East Providence.

Officials have not released exact figures regarding the expected shortfall, but have stated that the department is likely to overspend by several million for the second consecutive year.

http://www.breezeobserver.com/2012/02/15/nsbw/state-intervention-more-likely-as-woonsocket-school-deficit-grows

Does anyone know where the reports are that were due out by the end of January??

State Revenue Director Rosemary Booth Gallogly said that to avoid state intervention, WED must submit complete and accurate reports regarding year to date expenditures and cash flow by Jan. 31 - a duty which under normal conditions would fall to the business manager.

Gee, you would think with all these "Dr.s" around, Gerardi and Giovanna, someone would be able to diagnose and stop the hemorrhaging of money that's taking place at the WED? Maybe we need a second, third, forth or fifth opinion?