A new auditing firm will be looking over Lehighton Area School District's finances following an 8-1 board vote this week.

Maillie LLP will replace Gorman and Associates, which had been the district's auditor for the past 12 years."Gorman and Associates did a great job for the 12 years in the district," said Rocky Ahner, the board member who made the motion for the change. "It's good practice to change auditors periodically. It gives you a greater sense of checks and balances."The only board member opposing the switch was Gloria Bowman."I feel that Gorman knows the district and I have a lot of faith in how they have helped the district through the process in the past," Bowman said.Maillie has offices in Hazleton and East Stroudsburg.According to Ahner, the contract calls for the district to pay them $30,300 in 2015, $31,300 in 2016 and $32,300 in 2017."The other proposals we got would have cost the taxpayers more money in the end," he said.Periodically changing auditors just get to a fresh perspective is becoming commonplace for Pennsylvania school districts, Ahner said.He expects an intense audit from the new firm."Other people came in here in the past and it was like our people were working for them," Ahner said. "Our people are valuable for what they do. I think it was just time for a switch."