Purpose of Audit

The purpose of our audit was to evaluate the District’s financial management for the period July 1, 2011 through May 7, 2015.

Background

The Penfield Central School District is located in the Towns of Penfield, Brighton, Perinton and Pittsford in Monroe County and the Towns of Macedon and Walworth in Wayne County. The District, which operates six schools with approximately 4,500 students, is governed by an elected seven-member Board of Education. Budgeted appropriations for the 2014-15 fiscal year were approximately $89.2 million.

Key Findings

• The District adopted budgets with overestimated expenditures and appropriated fund balance to finance operations that was not actually used.
• As of June 30, 2015, two reserves with balances totaling approximately $8 million are overfunded and potentially unnecessary.
• The school lunch fund’s total fund balance exceeds the federally regulated limit by more than $45,000.

Key Recommendations

• Adopt budgets that reflect the District’s actual needs and include realistic estimates based on historical trends or other identified analysis.
• Review all reserves and determine if the amounts reserved are necessary, reasonable and in compliance with statutory requirements.
• Ensure that the school lunch fund budget is balanced and consider using the excessive balance to fund school lunch operations.