[read complete report – pdf]

Audit Objective

Determine whether the Schuyler Lake Fire District (District) Board of Fire Commissioners (Board) established controls over financial activities to safeguard assets.

Key Findings

The Board did not establish adequate controls over financial activities to safeguard assets. The Board did not:

• Establish adequate controls over the work of the Treasurer, which include receiving and disbursing cash, signing District checks and maintaining the accounting records.
• Annually audit the Treasurer’s records.
• Ensure the Treasurer filed the District’s required annual update documents (AUDs) for fiscal years 2015 through 2021.As a result, as of July 31, 2022, the AUDs were between 152 and 2,343 days late.
• Complete mandatory fiscal oversight training.

Key Recommendations

• Segregate the Treasurer’s financial duties or provide increased oversight to mitigate the risk.
• Annually audit the Treasurer’s records.
• File the required AUD with Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) within 60 days of the close of the fiscal year.
• Complete mandatory fiscal oversight training.

District officials agreed with our recommendations and indicated that they are implementing corrective action.