New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced his office completed audits of the East Islip Union Free School District, Elizabethtown-Lewis Central School District, George Junior Republic Union Free School District and the Otsego Northern Catskills Board of Cooperative Educational Services.

“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.”

East Islip Union Free School District – Financial Condition (Suffolk County)

The board did not adopt realistic budgets because it consistently overestimated expenditures and appropriated fund balance that was not needed to fund operations.

Elizabethtown-Lewis Central School District – Claims Processing (Essex County)

District officials have established adequate procedures over the claims processing function to ensure that claims were for appropriate purposes, adequately supported, and audited and approved prior to payment.

George Junior Republic Union Free School District – Tuition Billing (Tompkins County)

The district’s billing and collection process expedites the collection of tuition, which allows the district to remain financially solvent.

Otsego Northern Catskills Board of Cooperative Educational Services – Extra-Classroom Activity Funds (Otsego County)

Officials generally ensured that the extra-classroom cash receipts and disbursements were properly safeguarded. However, detailed procedures have not been put in place to formally reconcile the potential sales from fundraising activities to the amounts collected and deposited.

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.