New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced his office completed audits of the Central Valley School District, Cornwall Central School District, Cuba-Rushford Central School District, DeRuyter Central School District, Margaretville Central School District, Newburgh Preparatory Charter High School, Trumansburg Central School District and the Wappingers 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.”

Central Valley School District – Claims Audit (Herkimer County)

The treasurer does not oversee the application of her signature on checks or compare checks to the warrant prior to issuance. Consequently, there is an increased risk that improper disbursements or payment errors could occur.

Cornwall Central School District – Financial Condition (Orange County)

District officials enacted budgets with planned operating deficits and used approximately $1.9 million of fund balance to finance district operations in fiscal years 2011-12 through 2013-14.

Cuba-Rushford Central School District – Financial Management (Allegany County)

District officials overestimated expenditures by a total of $8.5 million over a four-year period ranging from 7 to 14 percent more than actual expenditures. In addition, unrestricted fund balance annually exceeded statutory limits and reserves are overfunded by approximately $3.2 million.

DeRuyter Central School District – Financial Condition (Madison County)

In the past three fiscal years the board appropriated $675,000, $525,000 and $376,626 in fund balance to finance operations. In addition, the district has used general fund money to help subsidize the school lunch fund operations over the past several years.

Margaretville Central School District – Fund Balance (Delaware County)

The board did not effectively manage the fund balance of the general fund. As a result, the district had unrestricted fund balance in the general fund totaling $670,000 (6.2 percent) of the following year’s appropriations as of June 30, 2014 and reserve fund balances that increased by almost $2 million (131 percent) over a five-year period.

Newburgh Preparatory Charter High School – Board Oversight and Disbursements (Orange County)

The board did not receive adequate monthly financial records, did not establish a sound budget process and did not obtain a required independent audit of the school’s financial records. Without accurate financial reports, the board had no assurance that expenditures did not exceed budgeted amounts and could not take proper timely actions when more than $26,000 in cash shortages occurred.

Trumansburg Central School District – School Lunch Operations (Tompkins County)

The district’s menus were certified as being compliant with the new federal meal pattern requirements. However, district meals cost more to prepare than the revenue generated by sales.

Wappingers Central School District – Fuel Accountability (Dutchess County)

Despite the use of a fuel management system, district officials do not review system activity reports to identify anomalies regarding quantities dispensed, fueling times and the odometer readings entered by employees. As a result, the district cannot properly account for how much fuel is pumped into specific vehicles and by whom.

For access to state and local government spending and nearly 50,000 state contracts, visit OpenBookNY. 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.