New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced the following local government audits have been issued.
Brighton Fire District No. 5 – Credit Card and Travel Expenditures (Erie County)
The board and district officials could not demonstrate whether board-approved payments of approximately $169,000 were a proper use of district money. In addition, travel and car rental costs of approximately $58,000 were not pre-approved and the board did not authorize per diem payments of approximately $9,000 that may have been unnecessary and/or an improper use of district money.
Lake Champlain–Lake George Regional Planning Board – Governance Over Loan Operations (Clinton County)
The Lake Champlain–Lake George Regional Planning Board (RPB) did not monitor its loan program. Auditors also found delinquent loans were not properly enforced.
Town of Saranac – Cash Management (Clinton County)
The board did not develop and manage a comprehensive investment program to ensure interest earnings were maximized and bank fees were minimized. Had the supervisor invested available funds in a financial institution with higher available interest rates, revenue could have increased by $56,324 during the audit period. Auditors determined the town incurred bank fees totaling $3,327 while receiving $920 in interest earnings during the audit period resulting in a net cost of $2,407 related to banking services.
Town of Seneca Falls – Credit Card and Travel Expenditures (Seneca County)
The board approved 236 purchases totaling $24,416 that lacked adequate supporting documentation or an explanation to support the purchase as an appropriate expenditure. In addition, the former assistant recreation director used the Town’s credit card to make 160 personal purchases totaling $12,938, for which the town incurred approximately $3,774 in interest and finance charges.
Town of Seneca Falls – Procurement (Seneca County)
Auditors found town officials may not have appropriately procured nine single or aggregate purchases over the competitive bidding thresholds (totaling $1.13 million). Auditors also found that town officials did not seek competition for eight professional service contracts totaling $384,400.
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