PHOENIX – Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is threatening legal action against state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne over the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program’s risk-based auditing system.

The system automatically approves ESA purchases under $2,000, with each purchase audited afterwards.

Mayes announced Tuesday her office is investigating the system, with possible public monies violations facing both Horne and parents guilty of misusing ESA funds.

“We continue to urge Tom Horne to make the reforms necessary to stop those expenditures,” she said. “And so, what I would say is litigation is not off the table, but we are really pushing him hard to make reforms that would prevent that misspending of taxpayer dollars.”

RELATED STORIES • Arizona governor, sup

See Full Page