The Nampa School District’s budget for the current school year has expenditures that “drastically exceed revenue,” former Superintendent Gary Larsen told trustees in his resignation letter.

Larsen added that the “serious problem” must be addressed by a “new leader, one who has not lost the confidence of the people.”

The district says a $2.8 million shortfall revealed in August has grown larger, but has yet to specify a new figure.

Larsen’s letter is dated Thursday. News of his departure broke Monday and the board accepted his resignation after a closed-door meeting Tuesday night.

“During the coming days we will be creating a plan to address this deficit,” Board Chairman Scott Kido wrote in a letter to parents and staff.

The board approved hiring an independent auditor to “complete a comprehensive review of the district’s finances,” Kido added.

Kido will chair a committee to hire an interim superintendent, hoping to find someone from outside the district. The panel will also recruit a permanent replacement.

Larsen “did not resign in disgrace,” Kido wrote, and “never lost our confidence.” Rather, Kido continued, Larsen “sacrificed himself in order to give us the best chance to heal and focus on the needs of students.”

Larsen had been superintendent since 1994.

“I am so sorry,” he wrote trustees. “I apologize to the students and patrons but more especially to you and the faculty and staff for this failure of trust.”

The Associated Press reports that previous turnover included district accountant Danielle Sisayaket, who left in September 2011 and has since filed a lawsuit alleging she was terminated for raising concerns about questionable accounting practices. District officials have countered that an investigation revealed no evidence of financial wrongdoing and Sisayaket's position was eliminated due to state budget cuts. Sisayaket's case is scheduled to go to trial in April.

Dan Popkey: 377-6438, Twitter: @IDS_politics