Purpose of Audit

The purpose of our audit was to examine the Authority’s cash disbursement procedures for the period July 1, 2015 through March 31, 2017.

Background

The Islip Housing Authority is located in the Town of Islip in Suffolk County. The Authority, which provides low-rent housing for qualified individuals, is governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners composed of five members appointed by the Town, plus two tenant members elected by the tenants. Operating expenditures for the 2016-17 fiscal year totaled $18,653,655.

Key Findings

• The Director and Assistant Director audit claims but are not independent of the purchasing and check signing functions.
• While the Director was on leave, the account clerk applied the Director’s electronic signature to the general disbursement checks.

Key Recommendations

• Ensure that the individual(s) auditing claims are independent of the purchasing and check signing functions.
• Develop and adopt a check signature policy that authorizes designated signees to use electronic signatures to imprint on Authority checks and requires signees to maintain custody of their electronic signatures and passwords.