Audits of Local Governments & Schools

The Office of the New York State Comptroller’s Division of Local Government and School Accountability conducts performance audits of local governments and school districts. Performance audits provide findings or conclusions based on an evaluation of evidence against criteria. Local officials use audit findings to improve program performance and operations, reduce costs and contribute to public accountability.

For audits older than 2013, contact us at [email protected].

For audits of State and NYC agencies and public authorities, see Audits.

Topics
Village | Utilities

July 23, 2021 –

The Board did not provide adequate oversight of the Treasurer's financial operations.

School District | Information Technology

July 23, 2021 –

District officials did not establish adequate controls over network user accounts and settings.

School District | Cash Disbursements

July 16, 2021 –

The Board did not ensure that non-payroll disbursements were appropriately procured, properly audited and approved, adequately supported and for valid District purposes.

Fire District | Purchasing

July 16, 2021 –

District officials did not always use a competitive process to procure goods, services or professional services or ensure no conflicts of interest existed.

School District | Information Technology

July 16, 2021 –

District officials did not establish adequate controls over the District's user accounts to prevent unauthorized use, access and/or loss.

City, Industrial Development Agency | Other

July 16, 2021 –

The Board and officials did not properly approve and monitor projects or take action when goals were not met.

Town | Records and Reports, Other

July 16, 2021 –

The Supervisor did not maintain complete, accurate and timely financial records and reports, and the Board did not ensure there were no prohibited conflicts of interest.

Village | Financial Condition

July 16, 2021 –

The Board did not provide appropriate oversight and management of budgets and fund balance, or ensure annual audits were completed. More real property taxes were assessed than necessary to fund operations each year.

Fire District | Financial Condition

July 16, 2021 –

The Board did not effectively manage the District's financial condition and presented budgets that gave taxpayers the impression that the District needed to both increase real property taxes and use appropriated fund balance to close projected budget gaps. As a result, more real property taxes were levied than needed to fund operations.

City, Joint Activity | Capital Projects

July 9, 2021 –

City officials properly planned and monitored the Project.

Village | Cash Disbursements

July 9, 2021 –

The Village's check signing process does not comply with Village policy. The Village Treasurer (Treasurer) did not maintain control of her electronic signature.

School District | Information Technology

July 9, 2021 –

District officials did not implement adequate IT controls over the District Office's network to safeguard personal, private and sensitive information (PPSI).

Fire District | Purchasing

July 9, 2021 –

District officials did not solicit competition for professional services.

Local Development Corporation | Financial Condition

July 2, 2021 –

The Board did not effectively manage fund balance.

Fire District | General Oversight

July 2, 2021 –

The Board did not establish adequate controls over District financial activities to safeguard assets.

School District | Information Technology

July 2, 2021 –

The Board and District officials did not ensure the IT assets and data were safeguarded.

Town | Clerks

July 2, 2021 –

The Clerk properly recorded all the fees we reviewed and remitted all fees collected during the audit period in a timely manner. However, the Clerk did not always deposit fees within the required time frame.

City | Other

July 2, 2021 –

The Office of the State Comptroller, as Fiscal Agent for the City of Yonkers (City), determined that the City's adopted budget for fiscal year 2021-22 and the related justification documents are in material compliance with the requirements of the Fiscal Agent Act (Chapter 488 of the Laws of 1976, as amended) (Act) and the City's bond covenants incorporating provisions of the Act. However, we wish to comment on the following issues which impact the City's financial condition in the current and future years.

School District | Records and Reports

June 25, 2021 –

District officials did not maintain complete, accurate and timely accounting records and reports to allow officials to effectively manage financial operations and capital projects, and Board oversight was lacking.

Town | Financial Condition

June 25, 2021 –

The Board did not effectively manage the Town's financial condition and was unaware of the Town's true financial position when it adopted budgets because it did not receive accurate financial information from the Town Supervisor.

Town | Information Technology

June 25, 2021 –

Town officials did not adequately safeguard Town IT assets and failed to implement the recommendations we made in 2013 to adopt comprehensive IT security policies and monitor computer use.

City | Financial Condition

June 25, 2021 –

The Council and City officials did not adopt structurally balanced budgets, properly monitor the City's financial operations or take appropriate actions to maintain the City's fiscal stability. As a result, the City has significant fiscal stress.

Town | Financial Condition

June 25, 2021 –

The Board generally developed realistic budgets. However, the budgets were not structurally balanced

School District | Information Technology

June 25, 2021 –

District officials did not ensure that the District's network access controls were secure.

School District | Information Technology

June 18, 2021 –

The Board and District officials did not ensure IT systems were adequately secured and protected.