Purpose of Audit

The purpose of our audit was to determine if the Board is monitoring the fire companies that provide fire protection services to the Town’s fire protection districts for the period January 1, 2013 through March 31, 2015.

Background

The Town of Ulster is located in Ulster County and has a population of approximately 12,300. The Town is governed by an elected five-member Town Board. Budgeted appropriations for 2015 total approximately $17.7 million.

Key Findings

• The Board does not have a current written contract with one of the fire companies to provide fire protection services.
• The Town did not consistently receive financial records from one of the fire companies to be used as a basis for determining the amount that should be paid for fire protection services.

Key Recommendations

• Enter into written contracts or pass detailed Board resolutions for fire protection services with all of the Town’s service providers.
• Review fire protection service providers’ financial information to ensure that the District is paying reasonable costs for these services.