CEDAR FALLS - Malcolm Price Laboratory School failed to collect more than $250,000 in fees for certain students from July 2006 through March 2009, according to the result of a special investigation released by the state auditor today.

The audit says several families, including that of a state lawmaker, State Rep. Kerry Burt, D-Waterloo, had incorrect addresses given and should have paid more in tuition, because they did not actually live within Price Lab's basic attendance district or its buffer areas. The audit says Burt's family paid $37,000 less than it should have for his children to attend Price Lab.

Burt, contacted today, declined comment and said the matter would have to be handled by his attorneys. In an unrelated matter, the first-term lawmaker also has pleaded not guilty to a drunken driving charge filed against him earlier this year.

Several current and former lab school officials also were named as having paid less tuition than they should have.

State Auditor David Vaudt identified $255,889.39 in uncollected fees between July 1, 2006 and March 31, 2009.

"Of that amount $250,262.50 is the difference between the proper registration fees which should have been charged to and paid by certain families and the amount actually charged to the families by the school," Vaudt reported.

"The amounts charged by the school were primarily based incorrect addresses reported by the families," a press release on the audit stated. Those families should have paid more, because they lived outside the Lab School's basic attendance district or buffer zones.

The audit and investigation revealed nine families reported an incorrect address.

"All but 1 of the families reported an address within the School's basic or buffer zones for more than 1 year. The School's (former) Director reported an incorrect address for his children for the 2008-2009 academic year. As a result, his family was charged $14,871.00 less than the proper registration fees."

"Vaudt reported it was not possible to determine whether additional fees may have been uncollected because the accuracy of all students' addresses could not be determined for each year," a press release on the audit states. "Vaudt also reported it was not possible to determine if additional fees were uncollected because adequate records were not available for periods prior to the 2003/2004 academic year."

Copies of the report have been filed with the Division of Criminal Investigation, the Black Hawk County Attorney's Office and the Attorney General's Office.

Read Friday's Courier and online updates for more details.