SEATTLE - Some of the state's largest school districts are missing millions of dollars in equipment - from computers to digital cameras and projectors - that taxpayers provided for their classrooms.

Inventory records from Tacoma, Lake Washington, Bellevue, Everett, Shoreline and Seattle school districts reveal thousands of pieces of equipment are missing from local schools.

A review of those records found nearly 9,500 items purchased with tax dollars have disappeared, with the most troubling audit report in Tacoma Public Schools. District records show an inventory of 37,205 assets; 4,795 of them are missing.

The items missing in Tacoma range from Apple computers to a Genie forklift that vanished during the Stadium High School remodeling project. According to Tacoma's records, the cost to taxpayers was $6.08 million.

"Right now we know it's a concern and it should be a concern to the taxpayers," said district Chief Financial Officer Ron Hack.

Hack is not sure where the items are, but some may have moved on to other schools or been surplused with the proper paperwork. Hack also acknowledges that some of the items could have been stolen, but he's not sure how many.

A call to Seattle Public Schools also prompted school officials to look harder for 1,908 items missing from an inventory of 40,180 assets, plus another 2,225 items listed as "unresolved."

They found a Kubota tractor, three John Deere utility vehicles, and a Steinway grand piano.

"There are things that we certainly need to improve upon and we certainly acknowledge that," said Seattle schools spokesman David Tucker.

School districts missing fewer items are equally concerned. In Lake Washington School District, 608 items out of an inventory totaling 39,160 were missing, according to that suburban Seattle district's audit.

The Everett School District detailed 14 items that had been reported as stolen or missing.

The Bellevue School District reported that more than a dozen items that had been reported missing or stolen, but did not provide more detailed information.

The Shoreline School District said no items that cost $5,000 or more were missing, but could not provide an accounting for items that cost less.