Comptroller DiNapoli Releases Municipal Audit

DiNapoli’s auditors found that excessive fund balances have accumulated in the consolidated sewer, general part-town and highway town-wide funds for the Town of New Hartford, while the general town-wide fund balance steadily declined from $2.8 million in 2006, resulting in a general town-wide fund unreserved, unappropriated deficit of $356,000 in 2009.  The decline was caused by planned operating deficits using fund balance to fund operations and by overestimating sales tax revenues. Operating deficits within the town’s police fund also contributed to the decline.  Auditor’s estimate that the police fund has a deficit fund balance of about $1 million as of December 31, 2009.  Auditor’s also found weak internal controls and inadequate oversight of the receiver’s collection activities.

A copy of the audit can be found here: http://osc.state.ny.us/localgov/audits/index.htm.