Audits of Local Governments

The Office of the New York State Comptroller’s Division of Local Government and School Accountability conducts performance audits of local governments and school districts. Performance audits provide findings or conclusions based on an evaluation of evidence against criteria. Local officials use audit findings to improve program performance and operations, reduce costs and contribute to public accountability.

For audits older than 2013, contact us at [email protected].

For audits of State and NYC agencies and public authorities, see Audits.

Topics
Town | Clerks

February 25, 2022 –

The Town Clerk (Clerk) did not record, deposit, remit and report all collections received in a timely and accurate manner.

Town | Financial Condition

February 25, 2022 –

The Board did not adopt realistic and appropriate budgets and the Town's preliminary budgets for 2017-2020 fiscal years did not include the fund balance estimates required by Town Law. Town officials also did not effectively monitor the annual budgets.

School District | Capital Projects

February 18, 2022 –

District officials properly established, authorized contracts and claims, monitored and accounted for the project consisting of building improvements, upgrades and tennis court reconstruction during the audit period. There were no recommendations as a result of this audit.

County, Court and Trust | Other

February 18, 2022 –

The purpose of our review was to determine whether County officials have established appropriate controls to safeguard and account for court and trust funds for the period January 1, 2018 through October 31, 2021.

Town | Financial Condition

February 11, 2022 –

The Board did not develop and adopt realistic budgets or determine how much fund balance should be maintained. As a result, the Town maintained unreasonable fund balance levels, which ultimately resulted in a higher-than-necessary tax levy.

Industrial Development Agency, County | Capital Projects

February 11, 2022 –

COIDA did not adequately plan for the 2017 acquisition of the Rail Yards.

BOCES | Purchasing

February 11, 2022 –

The Purchasing Agent did not ensure that goods and services were procured in accordance with the purchasing policy and procedures.

City | Capital Projects

February 11, 2022 –

Officials were unable to readily determine the complete financial history and position of individual projects or determine the correct capital project fund balance.

School District | Revenues

February 4, 2022 –

The Board and District officials have not established adequate written policies and procedures over disposals of District property.

Town | Utilities

February 4, 2022 –

Town officials did not effectively manage most aspects of the water and sewer districts' financial operations.

School District | Other

February 4, 2022 –

The Board did not properly fund, use or manage reserve funds according to applicable laws or best practices.

City | Cash Disbursements, Information Technology

January 31, 2022 –

The City Council, the former Comptroller and other City officials did not provide proper oversight of non-payroll disbursements. The former Comptroller did not properly or transparently account for all non-payroll disbursements. Her failure to provide financial information or perform her duties resulted in the untimely payment of claims and litigation. As a result, the City's reputation with its vendors was damaged and the City paid for additional, potentially unnecessary, disbursements related to litigation.

School District | Information Technology

January 28, 2022 –

District officials did not ensure that network user accounts were adequately managed and monitored.

School District | Information Technology

January 28, 2022 –

District officials did not ensure that the District's network access controls were secure.

BOCES | Employee Benefits

January 28, 2022 –

BOCES officials did not always make appropriate and accurate employee separation payments.

Town | Financial Condition

January 21, 2022 –

The Board did not effectively manage the Town's financial condition of the water and sewer funds.

Fire District | General Oversight

January 21, 2022 –

The Board did not provide adequate oversight of the Treasurer's fiscal duties and could not explain why the bank balances presented on the Treasurer's reports for three consecutive months contained discrepancies totaling $2.96 million.

Town | Cash Receipts

January 21, 2022 –

The former Receiver, who resigned during our audit, did not properly bill, collect or disburse taxes, fees and penalties.

County, Industrial Development Agency, Local Development Corporation | Cash Disbursements

January 21, 2022 –

Although the tested disbursements were for valid purposes, LDC officials did not always ensure they were properly authorized and supported.

School District | Purchasing

January 14, 2022 –

District officials did not always comply with the District's procurement policy and seek competition for the purchase of goods and services not subject to competitive bidding.