ALBANY – The Board of the Woodbourne Fire District did not provide adequate oversight of the district’s financial operations, according to an audit conducted by the State Comptroller’s Office.
As a result, the review said the board hindered their ability to make informed financial decisions and levied taxes that were more than necessary to fund operations.
The audit for the period from January 1, 2020 to November 30, 2022 found that the board did not
- Ensure the Treasurer/Secretary maintained basic accounting records and reports or provided regular financial reports to the Board.
- Perform a thorough audit of all claims prior to payment.
- Adopt realistic budgets or maintain reasonable levels of fund balance. The District’s December 31, 2022 fund balance was enough to fund nearly two and a half years of expenditures.
- Develop and adopt policies and procedures for the District’s financial operations, including controls for wire transfers, online banking, investments, procurement, travel and conferences, fund balance, reserves, credit card use and capital assets.
- Transparently set aside funds for future building and equipment needs.
Key recommendations by the auditors include:
- Maintain proper accounting records and reports and ensure the Board receives appropriate financial reports.
- Adopt realistic budgets and properly audit all claims prior to payment.
- Develop and adopt financial plans for maintaining a reasonable level of fund balance.
District officials generally agreed with the recommendations and have initiated or indicated they planned to initiate corrective action.
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