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Audits of Local Governments: About Our Audits
… the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) Yellow Book [pdf] , performance audits are designed to do the … objectives can vary widely, and as explained in GAO’s Yellow Book [pdf], include assessments of: Program …
https://www.osc.ny.gov/local-government/audits/audits-local-governments-about-our-auditsInternal Control
… Laws, Rules & Regulations Internal Control Act Standards for … Laws Rules Regulations …
https://www.osc.ny.gov/state-agencies/guidance/internal-controlAccounts Payable Advisory No. 5
… Making Payments to the United States Postal Service (USPS) and related postal services, such as Pitney Bowes … to vendors. Improper preparation of vouchers payable for USPS and related postal services may delay payment crediting. … For information on how to process payments to the USPS and related postal services, including specific …
https://www.osc.ny.gov/state-agencies/advisories/accounts-payable-advisory/5-complex-entity-payments-postageOperational Advisory No. 3
… Subject: Budget Check Reminder Guidance: Agency transaction … changed in the review process, the transaction must be re-budget checked and be in a valid budget status prior to submittal to OSC. Changing chart of … Budget Check Reminder …
https://www.osc.ny.gov/state-agencies/advisories/operational-advisory/3-budget-check-reminderOperational Advisory No. 6
… recording all re-appropriations contained in the 2025-2026 fiscal year enacted budget. All appropriations scheduled to lapse on March 31, 2026 contain the appropriate lapse date. Please see the … review appropriations scheduled to lapse on March 31, 2026 by utilizing the SFS report NYKK0004 as detailed in the …
https://www.osc.ny.gov/state-agencies/advisories/operational-advisory/6-lapsing-notice-and-remindersTravel Advisory No. 5
… Subject: Section XIII.3 – Record Retention – Travel and Expense was updated. Guidance: The Office of the State … Chapter XIII, Section 3 – Record Retention – Travel and Expense of the Guide to Financial Operations (GFO) . … now required to retain documentation supporting Travel and Expense transactions for six years. Online agencies are …
https://www.osc.ny.gov/state-agencies/advisories/travel-advisory/5-gfo-updates-record-retention-travel-and-expenseCity of North Tonawanda – Audit Follow-Up (2020M-90-F)
… – pdf] Purpose of Review The purpose of our review was to assess the City of North Tonawanda’s (City’s) progress, as … City’s financial operations or take appropriate actions to maintain the City’s fiscal stability. The audit included 10 recommendations to help officials monitor and improve the City’s financial …
https://www.osc.ny.gov/local-government/audits/city/2025/03/07/city-north-tonawanda-audit-follow-2020m-90-fAlexandria Central School District – Financial Condition Management (2020M-109)
… report - pdf ] Audit Objective Determine whether the Board and officials adopted reasonable budgets and adequately managed the District’s financial condition. … District officials did not adopt reasonable budgets and adequately manage financial condition during our audit …
https://www.osc.ny.gov/local-government/audits/school-district/2020/12/30/alexandria-central-school-district-financial-condition-management-2020mLake Pleasant Central School District - School District Website (S9-19-36)
… certain financial information was not posted, resulting in a lack of transparency. Information that was posted was limited in comprehensiveness. This prevents taxpayers and other … and corrective action plan (CAP) to the external audit in an easily accessible location. Officials did not prepare: …
https://www.osc.ny.gov/local-government/audits/school-district/2021/03/23/lake-pleasant-central-school-district-school-district-website-s9-19-36Town of Warwick - Water and Sewer Fund Financial Condition (2018M-259)
… operating deficits during the audit period with totals ranging from $11,100 to $59,700, and are projected to …
https://www.osc.ny.gov/local-government/audits/town/2019/04/12/town-warwick-water-and-sewer-fund-financial-condition-2018m-259Gates-Chili Central School District - Financial Management (2019M-53)
… million as of June 30, 2018. The Board increased real property taxes by $2.6 million over the last three years …
https://www.osc.ny.gov/local-government/audits/school-district/2019/06/21/gates-chili-central-school-district-financial-management-2019m-53Cortland County - Financial Management and Reporting (2019M-162)
… of the condition of the records. Key Recommendations Fill key financial positions within a reasonable timeframe. …
https://www.osc.ny.gov/local-government/audits/county/2019/11/27/cortland-county-financial-management-and-reporting-2019m-162Canastota Central School District - Financial Condition Management (2019M-174)
… $7.1 million from 2015-16 through 2017-18, which resulted in most of the appropriated fund balance not being needed to … that are valid and supported. Return excess funds in the tax certiorari reserve to the unrestricted fund balance in the general fund in accordance with the law. District …
https://www.osc.ny.gov/local-government/audits/school-district/2019/11/08/canastota-central-school-district-financial-condition-management-2019mTown of Frankfort - Board Oversight (2018M-58)
… controls to help oversee the former Supervisor’s work. Our tests of check disbursements totaling $1.4 million disclosed …
https://www.osc.ny.gov/local-government/audits/town/2018/06/08/town-frankfort-board-oversight-2018m-58Town of Rensselaerville - Real Property Tax Exemption Administration (2019M-207)
… (38 percent), valued at approximately $2.4 million in assessed value, lacked one or more pieces of supporting … after they were entered by the clerk, allowing errors in the calculation of these exemptions to go undetected. Key … to meet eligibility requirements. Except as specified in Appendix B, Town officials generally agreed with our …
https://www.osc.ny.gov/local-government/audits/town/2020/01/10/town-rensselaerville-real-property-tax-exemption-administration-2019m-207Village of Greenwich - Water and Sewer Financial Operations (2019M-229)
… effectively managed the billing, collecting, enforcing and accounting for water and sewer charges. Key Findings The Village lacked effective procedures to ensure water and sewer charges were accurately billed, collected and … effectively managed the billing collecting enforcing and accounting for water and sewer charges …
https://www.osc.ny.gov/local-government/audits/village/2020/04/17/village-greenwich-water-and-sewer-financial-operations-2019m-229Greenville Fire District - Fixed Assets (2019M-223)
… could have been sold or traded in to help offset the cost of new equipment purchases totaling $124,880. Twenty pieces of equipment purchased during the audit period totaling over …
https://www.osc.ny.gov/local-government/audits/fire-district/2020/02/28/greenville-fire-district-fixed-assets-2019m-223Chenango Valley Central School District -- Budget Review (B19-4-2)
… The Chenango Valley Central School District is located in Broome County. Chapter 260 of the Laws of 2008 authorizes the District to issue debt in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $3.5 million to liquidate the accumulated deficit in the District’s general fund and food service fund as of …
https://www.osc.ny.gov/local-government/audits/school-district/2019/04/12/chenango-valley-central-school-district-budget-review-b19-4-2Town of Yorkshire – Financial Management (2021M-109)
… levels of fund balance and properly planned for equipment replacement. Key Findings The Board and officials did not … levels of fund balance or properly plan for equipment replacement. The Board: Consistently overestimated … levels of fund balance and properly planned for equipment replacement …
https://www.osc.ny.gov/local-government/audits/town/2021/11/19/town-yorkshire-financial-management-2021m-109Town of Owasco – Financial Management and Procurement (2021M-70)
… and capital plans. Determine whether professional services and playground equipment were procured in a manner … the prudent and economical use of public money in the best interests of the taxpayers. Key Findings The Board did … plans or ensure the proper procurement of professional services and playground equipment. The Board did not: Adopt …
https://www.osc.ny.gov/local-government/audits/town/2021/08/13/town-owasco-financial-management-and-procurement-2021m-70