[read complete report – pdf] | [read complete 2023 report – pdf]

Purpose of the Audit Follow-Up Review 

The purpose of our review was to assess the Village of Wappingers Falls’ (Village) progress, as of our review period from September 30, 2025 through February 28, 2026, in implementing our recommendations in the audit report Village of Wappingers Falls: Board Oversight (2023M-70), released in December 2023.

The audit determined that the Board of Trustees (Board) did not provide adequate oversight over financial operations and capital projects. The audit included 13 recommendations to help officials strengthen internal controls, financial reporting, oversight, and long-term planning.

Background

The Village is located in the Towns of Wappinger and Poughkeepsie in Dutchess County .The Village provides various services to its residents, including street maintenance, snow removal, street lighting and general government support. These services are financed primarily with real property taxes. The Village is governed by the elected Board composed of the Mayor and six Trustees. The Board is responsible for the overall management and oversight of Village operations. The Mayor is the chief executive officer. The Board-appointed Treasurer is the chief fiscal officer and responsible for the collection, disbursement and custody of Village funds, and the maintenance of accounting records

Results of Review

Village officials have not made substantial progress implementing corrective action. Of the 13 audit recommendations, two were partially implemented, and 11 were not implemented. As a result, the risk of financial mismanagement and officials’ lacking reliable understanding of the Village’s financial condition we identified in our December 2023 audit report remains.