Purpose of Audit

The purpose of our audit was to review the Town’s internal controls over selected financial operations for the period January 1, 2012 through November 30, 2013.

Background

The Town of Willsboro is located in Essex County and has a population of approximately 2,025. The Town is governed by an elected five-member Town Board. Budgeted appropriations for the 2013 fiscal year were approximately $1.9 million.

Key Findings

• The Clerk did not issue receipts for any collections nor did she maintain a cash receipts journal.
• Fourteen deposits containing cash receipts totaling $16,575 were deposited more than five days after receipt.
• The Town did not have comprehensive written policies and procedures to provide adequate guidance and internal controls over transfer station receipts.

Key Recommendations

• Issue duplicate receipts for all collections where no other evidence of receipt exists and maintain a cash receipts journal to account for all fees collected.
• Ensure that water and sewer collections and transfer station cash receipts are deposited timely and intact.
• Establish a comprehensive transfer station cash receipts policy that communicates the duties, records and procedures required for ensuring that the collection of moneys, issuance of tickets and deposit of moneys received are properly carried out.