The Montgomery County Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has released a new report identifying areas where Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) must improve its procurement practices, specifically related to non-capital construction materials purchased during fiscal years 2023 and 2024.
Inspector General Megan Davey Limarzi announced the findings in the report titled Review of Procurement Practices, Montgomery County Public Schools (OIG Publication #26-08). The review examined whether MCPS followed state law, school system policies, and procurement regulations when purchasing goods and services valued at more than $1,500. The effort is part of the OIG’s mandate to promote fiscal accountability and was included in its Revised Work Plan & Projected Budget (Nov. 1, 2023 – June 30, 2025).
MCPS’s Division of Procurement oversees the purchase of non-capital construction-related equipment, supplies, and services. According to the report, the school system spent between $200 million and $300 million annually on these goods and services during FY23 and FY24.
The OIG identified numerous inconsistencies in how procurement laws, regulations, and internal procedures were applied. Among the key findings:
- MCPS made approximately $1 million in purchases without obtaining Board of Education approval, a requirement under Maryland state law.
- The school system hired and paid seven active employees as consultants or independent contractors during FY23 and FY24, which violates MCPS policy.
In total, the report included three findings and four recommendations aimed at tightening and clarifying procurement practices across the school system. Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor concurred with all of the OIG’s recommendations.
The full report is now available to the public through the Office of the Inspector General.
