Patrick Ogden, associate superintendent of business services, submitted a letter of resignation but did not explain his reasons for leaving, although it came about a week after State Superintendent Patti Harrington placed him on paid administrative leave for failing to turn education budget requests in to the Governor's Office on time.
The Education Office is conducting an internal investigation into why the budget requests were a month late. A report on the results of that investigation is expected today.
"I'm certain he felt pressured by that report and probably understood much of it would have reflected poorly on the accounting staff he leads," Harrington said Wednesday.
Attempts to reach Ogden for comment Wednesday were unsuccessful.
Harrington said she enjoyed working with Ogden but the investigation so far has revealed his department was not serious enough about putting together budget requests.
"The job did not rise to the level of priority that any job or request from the Legislature, governor, my office or the board should receive," Harrington said.
Harrington said her office turned in incomplete requests to the Governor's Office on Oct. 25, a month after they were due. She said she turned in the completed requests Tuesday.
Each year, the Education Office and other state departments turn in budget requests to the Governor's Office detailing how much they would like from the Legislature and what the money would be used for. The governor uses those requests to create budget recommendations, which the Legislature considers when putting together the state budget.
Late budget requests slow the process, according to Lisa Roskelley, a spokeswoman for Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.
Harrington said she expects the investigation to explain why the budget requests were a month late and why they were not as detailed as necessary. She said she will be examining the entire accounting department, and is looking to hire a new associate superintendent, likely from outside the office.
She said she still plans to hire a consultant to look at how the office handles data in general.
Ogden was with the state office for seven years, Harrington said, and before that he worked for the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget.
lschenker@sltib.com
"The job did not rise to the level of priority that any job or request from the Legislature, governor, my office or the board should receive."
PATTI HARRINGTON
State superintendent
