Audits of Local Governments & Schools

The Office of the New York State Comptroller’s Division of Local Government and School Accountability conducts performance audits of local governments and school districts. Performance audits provide findings or conclusions based on an evaluation of evidence against criteria. Local officials use audit findings to improve program performance and operations, reduce costs and contribute to public accountability.

For audits older than 2013, contact us at [email protected].

For audits of State and NYC agencies and public authorities, see Audits.

Topics
School District | Information Technology

December 3, 2021 –

District officials did not adequately manage network user accounts or develop an IT contingency plan that details how District officials would respond to IT disruptions.

Village | Clerks

November 24, 2021 –

This audit contains similar findings and recommendations to our 2012 audit of the Village. The same Clerk-Treasurer was in office for both audits.

Town | Cash Receipts

November 24, 2021 –

Golf course collections were not properly recorded in the form collected, remitted to the bookkeeper in a timely manner or deposited timely.

Town | Purchasing

November 24, 2021 –

Town officials did not always seek competition when procuring goods and services.

County, Public Authority | Purchasing, Other

November 24, 2021 –

The Board did not provide adequate oversight, as it did not review, verify and approve County chargebacks prior to payment or actively oversee the procurement of professional services.

Town | General Oversight

November 24, 2021 –

The Board did not provide adequate oversight of financial operations, which allowed the former Town Supervisor (Supervisor) to misappropriate Town funds.

School District | Information Technology

November 24, 2021 –

District officials did not ensure that the District's network user account controls were secure.

Village | Cash Disbursements

November 24, 2021 –

Village officials did not establish adequate procedures to ensure all disbursements are for appropriate purposes, adequately supported or properly audited.

Town | Financial Condition

November 19, 2021 –

The Board adopted structurally balanced budgets. However, it could improve budgeting practices and be more transparent with how it budgets for the general and highway funds.

Justice Court | Justice Court

November 19, 2021 –

The Justices did not always ensure money due to the Court were collected, deposited, recorded and reported in an accurate and timely manner.

School District | Information Technology

November 19, 2021 –

District officials did not ensure IT systems were adequately secured and protected against unauthorized use, access and/or loss.

Town | Information Technology

November 19, 2021 –

Officials did not adequately safeguard IT resources. Although the Town paid an IT service provider more than $98,000 in 2019, officials did not define the provider's responsibilities.

Town | Records and Reports

November 19, 2021 –

The Supervisor did not properly appoint, and the Board and Supervisor did not properly monitor.

Town | Financial Condition

November 19, 2021 –

The Board and officials did not develop and adopt realistic budgets, maintain reasonable levels of fund balance, or properly plan for equipment replacement.

School District | Information Technology

November 12, 2021 –

District officials did not adequately safeguard computerized data from unauthorized use, access and loss and although the District paid an IT vendor $106,460 for IT services, officials did not have clear contract language that identified the IT vendor's roles and responsibilities. As a result, gaps in IT security practices occurred.

School District | Information Technology

November 12, 2021 –

District officials did not ensure that the District's network access controls were secure.

Village | Information Technology

November 12, 2021 –

Village officials did not ensure IT assets were adequately protected from unauthorized access, use and loss.

County | Other

November 12, 2021 –

Based on the results of our review, we found that the significant revenue and expenditure projections in the 2022 proposed budget are reasonable.

City | Other

November 10, 2021 –

The City's use of approximately $7.3 million of fund balance to close gaps in the budget decreases the fund balance that is available to cover unforeseen circumstances. The City could potentially face shortfalls based on revenue estimates for parking violation fines, sanitation user fees, sewer usage and sale of metered water. Based on projections, the health insurance appropriation is likely underestimated by $442,000. Budgeted overtime funding for firefighters ($1.5 million) and police ($1.4 million) is likely underestimated by a total of at least $359,000. All four of the City's collective bargaining agreements are set to expire at the end of 2021. The City faces potential increased salary and wage costs when these agreements are settled. The proposed budget does not include a contingency appropriation in the general fund. The proposed budget does not include a tax overlay, which could potentially create a revenue shortfall in 2022.

Town | Other

November 8, 2021 –

Based on the results of our review, we found that the significant revenue and expenditure projections in the 2022 tentative budget are reasonable.