The following audits were issued by the New York State Comptroller March 22, 2021:
Click on the text highlighted in color to access the complete audit report.
MUNICIPAL AUDITS
On March 22, 2021 New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced the following local government audits have been issued.
Town of Adams – Justice Court Operations (Jefferson County)
Overall, auditors found court funds were properly recorded, deposited and reported during our audit period. Corrective actions were recommended, however, after auditors found the board’s annual audit of the justices’ books and records is inadequate because it primarily relies on the clerk to perform the review procedures. Also, auditors found none of the justices prepared monthly accountabilities or bank reconciliations. In addition, cash in a retired justice’s bank account exceeded known liabilities by a total of $1,104.
Andes Joint Fire District – Financial Activities (Delaware County)
The Board of Fire Commissioners (Board) did not establish adequate controls over cash receipts and disbursements. The board did not segregate duties or provide additional oversight over receipts and disbursements to ensure the treasurer recorded all transactions accurately and timely. The board did not comply with New York State Town Law (Town Law) Section 176. Thirty debit card purchases totaling $4,680 were not audited and approved before payment.
Davenport Fire District – Financial Activities (Delaware County)
District officials have not established adequate controls to ensure that financial activities are properly recorded and reported, and cash is safeguarded. There were no records to support the collection of hall rental receipts. As a result, the Board of Fire Commissioners (Board), the district’s treasurer (Treasurer) or auditors are unable to verify whether all hall rental receipts were collected and deposited in a district bank account.
City of Hornell – Foreign Fire Insurance Funds (Steuben County)
Officials did not adopt policies and procedures guiding the handling of foreign fire insurance (FFI) tax money and provide oversight to ensure accurate records were maintained, and adequate supporting documentation and approvals were obtained. The Chamberlain did not maintain custody of the FFI tax money. The fire chief was solely responsible for disbursing, recording and reporting all transactions related to FFI tax money.
Village of Mayville – Online Banking (Chautauqua County)
Online banking transactions that were reviewed were appropriate, properly supported and authorized, however the board should ensure transactions are secure. The board did not adopt a written online banking policy or implement adequate procedures to monitor and control online banking transactions.
In addition, a dedicated computer was used for online banking but authorized users were not provided with security awareness training.
Village of Poquott – Justice Court Operations (Suffolk County)
The Justice Court did not properly account for court funds. The Justice was unaware that in August 2016, the court clerk deposited $6,525 belonging to a neighboring village’s justice court for which she also worked. The error was corrected in October 2016 when she transferred the money between two accounts. The justice was unaware that the court clerk filed 11 of 15 monthly reports of money collected (73 percent) to the JCF after the due date. On average, reports were 14 days late.
Town of Wappinger – Recreation Department Cash Receipts (Dutchess County)
Town officials did not develop adequate policies and procedures over department cash collections and did not ensure that cash is deposited timely. Officials did not provide adequate oversight of the department cash receipts process and the duties of the recreation director (Director), and department staff responsibilities were inadequately segregated. Department staff did not deposit 543 collections totaling $42,861 (composed of cash and checks) within 10 days, as required. For example, in July 2019, one deposit (composed of $3,085 in cash and $10,810 in checks) was deposited between 11 and 69 days after the collections.
SCHOOL DISTRICT AUDITS
New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced the following school district audits were issued on March 22, 2021.
The Board and District officials did not adequately safeguard personal, private and sensitive information (PPSI). Officials did not ensure information technology (IT) existing policies were enforced (or enforceable). In addition, officials did not ensure IT policies were up-to-date with current technology changes. User accounts were not regularly reviewed and unnecessary accounts were not disabled. Officials did not maintain up-to-date IT asset inventory records or enter into adequate written contracts with all IT service providers.
Whitesboro Central School District – Separation Payments (Herkimer County and Oneida County)
District officials did not ensure that separation payments are accurately calculated, supported and disbursed. Auditors questioned payments to three employees totaling $108,963. District officials paid two former administrators separation payments totaling $66,368 that were not supported by their individual employment contracts and were based on a board resolution adopted over 20 years before their contracts were approved. District officials also, allowed a former assistant principal to retire early and receive a $42,595 separation payment and post-employment health benefits that he otherwise would not have been eligible for based on the collective bargaining agreement.
Wyoming Central School District – Professional Services (Genesee County and Wyoming County)
District officials did not always use a competitive method to procure professional services or enter into written agreements with service providers. The district paid 11 professional service providers a total of $189,000 without using requests for proposals (RFPs) as required by the district’s procurement policy.
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