Audit will examine governance practices, litigation activity and use of taxpayer funds

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Today, Senator Thomas J. Umberg (D-Santa Ana), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced that the Joint Legislative Audit Committee has approved his request to conduct a state audit of the Orange County Board of Education and its public administration practices.

“The people of Orange County deserve transparency, accountability and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars,” said Senator Umberg. “For years, serious concerns have been raised about the Board’s governance, litigation practices and policy decisions. This audit is an important step toward ensuring that public resources are being used appropriately and that the focus remains on serving students and families.”

The audit comes in response to a series of actions by the Orange County Board of Education that have raised concerns about governance, legal risk, and the use of taxpayer resources. These include opposition to implementation of the California Healthy Youth Act, efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic to reopen schools without public health safeguards and related litigation, controversial charter school approvals, and multiple lawsuits involving state policy and internal governance.  

The audit will examine a pattern of governance disputes, litigation activity, and policy decisions over recent years that raise significant questions about transparency, fiscal stewardship, civil rights compliance, and adherence to statutory responsibilities.

“I have been following the OC BOE for several years, including attendance at many of their meetings,” said Andy Thorburn, President of the Contemporary Policy Institute. “It often seems that they are following a private agenda, rather than the public interest, and a full, non-partisan audit is the only way the voters of OC will have insight into their decision-making process and financial management.”

While the State Auditor has not yet issued a timeline for completion, the audit is expected to take at least six months to complete.

For full text of the audit’s scope and objectives, visit: 2026-106 Orange County Board of Education—Public Administration Oversight

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 Senator Thomas J. Umberg represents the 34th Senate District, which includes the cities of Anaheim, Buena Park, Fullerton, Garden Grove, La Habra, Orange, Placentia, Santa Ana, and East and South Whittier. Umberg is a retired U.S. Army Colonel, former federal prosecutor, and small businessman. He and his wife, Brigadier General Robin Umberg, USA (ret.), live in Orange County.