There was nothing criminal about a $20 million accounting discrepancy at issue in a special audit of the Fayette County Schools. But "chronic mismanagement" – including weak policies, "toxic" inter-office relationships and failed communications – played a role in the district's weakened financial position, according to the newly released audit.

State Auditor Adam Edelen released the results of the special examination of Fayette County Public Schools Wednesday morning. The audit began in May, following allegations from the school district's director of budget and staffing services that a years-old accounting error caused the $20 million shortfall that was facing the district this school year. The district ended up trimming the budget by $17 million.

Superintendent Tom Shelton called for the special audit following the allegations. He said in a written response in the audit that the district agreed with many of the findings, and promised to "take swift corrective action."