The financial cost of the El Paso Independent School District cheating scandal to taxpayers is adding up fast, at least when it comes to the audit.

EPISD hired the firm of Weaver & Tidwell to do a thorough audit and gather evidence on the widespread cheating scandal, a step required by the Texas Education Agency.

The only problem is Weaver went over budget, way over budget -- $200,000 over budget, and KFOX14 has obtained some of the invoices detailing how the firm managed to do that.

"I don't like surprised when someone is asking me for tax payers money," said board trustee David Dodge.

In October, Weaver submitted their proposal to the board, detailing a cost breakdown based on employees rates and expected hours worked, with total expenses coming in just shy of $580,000.

But three months later, the company asked the district for $60,000 for travel above the $8,000 travel budget and an extra $140,000 for "additional hours" worked.

Dodge said in Weaver's initial proposal, employees with lower salaries would do most of the work, but invoices show Weaver used many of its highest paid employees, some of whom make more than $300 an hour.

"The higher people were used a lot more than the little people and I didn't like that without being told in advance," said Dodge.

There is also another category of work on in invoices labeled "Weaver Expenses," with invoices showing $9,000 in costs that are neither itemized nor documented and $60,000 went to a company listed as Gibson Consultuing, even though they are not on the contract with the district.

"Assuming Weaver is a good company, they knew that the week before, two weeks before, three weeks before, that the bill was increasing beyond their estimate. That's when I would have liked, as a board member. I believe the other trustees would have liked, a, 'Hey it's coming,'" said Dodge.

KFOX14 spoke to a representative of the Weaver group, who couldn't explain why the company never contacted the board about the rising costs.

"That's protected under our client confidentiality," Beth Ann Brack of the Weaver group told KFOX14.

"There would have been the desire of many board members to have prior notice, rather than having to deal with it somewhat after the fact," said board president Isela Castanon Williams. "But nevertheless, the work was done and so we move on."

Board members said despite the costs, they are satisfied with Weaver's work.

"We wanted the Weaver company to do the best job possible. On the other hand, that required more money," said Williams.

They said it's a necessary step in cleaning up the district and holding those responsible for the cheating scheme accountable -- an $800,000 step.