Purpose of Audit

The purpose of our audit was to assess the Authority’s internal controls over tenant rents and claims processing for the period October 1, 2013 through June 30, 2015.

Background

The Gloversville Housing Authority is located in the City of Gloversville, Fulton County. The Authority, which was established in 1963 pursuant to State Public Housing Law, is governed by a seven-member Board of Commissioners. The Authority’s operating budget for the 2014-15 fiscal year totaled approximately $2.5 million.

Key Findings

• The Board did not adopt adequate policies for tenant rent collections to ensure that payments were safeguarded.
• Incompatible financial duties within the Authority’s office were not adequately segregated and the controls designed to mitigate the associated risks were insufficient.
• The Board did not establish policies and procedures to guide staff when processing claims, which were not audited prior to payment.

Key Recommendations

• Adopt written policies and procedures for the collection of tenant rents.
• Segregate rent collection duties among employees or ensure that Authority officials provide adequate oversight of the process.
• Perform a deliberate and thorough audit of all claims prior to payment.