New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced his office completed audits of the Greenport Union Free School District, Monticello Central School District, Susquehanna Valley Central School District and the Valley Central School District.

“In an era of limited resources and increased accountability, it’s critical that schools make every dollar count,” DiNapoli said. “By auditing school district and charter school finances and operations, my office continues to provide taxpayers the assurance that their money is being spent appropriately and effectively.”

Greenport Union Free School District – Financial Condition (Suffolk County)

District officials need to improve their oversight of the budget process and financial condition. Beginning in 2010-11, the district gradually increased its tax levy and budget. In each of the three years from 2010-11 to 2012-13, the district incurred operating surpluses and grew its fund balance from 1.1 percent in 2010-11 to 5.6 percent in 2012-13. The district’s external auditor informed officials that they exceeded the statutory limit of 4 percent in 2012-13.

Monticello Central School District – Budgeting (Sullivan County)

Budget estimates for revenues and expenditures have not been aligned with historical or actual needs of the district. From 2009-10 to 2012-13, the district spent an average of $6 million less than budgeted and received $2.3 million more in revenue than budgeted.

Susquehanna Valley Central School District – Budgeting Practices (Broome County)

The board did not adopt realistic budgets from fiscal years 2008-09 through 2012-13. While district officials maintained unexpended surplus funds in compliance with the statutory limit, they consistently overestimated expenditures and appropriated fund balance that was not used. This negated any benefit the appropriation of fund balance would have in reducing fund balance or the property tax levy.

Valley Central School District – Financial Condition (Orange County)

For fiscal years 2010-11 through 2012-13, district officials underestimated revenues by a total of $5.2 million and overestimated appropriations by a total of $9.7 million in the adopted budgets. The district’s fund balance has declined as a result of planned operating deficits. Specifically, the fund balance has decreased from $16.5 million in 2010-11 to $10.3 million in 2012-13.

For access to state and local government spending and nearly 50,000 state contracts, visit http://www.openbooknewyork.com/. The easy-to-use website was created by Comptroller DiNapoli to promote openness in government and provide taxpayers with better access to the financial workings of government.