FOR RELEASE:

DiNapoli: Mismanagement at Campbell-Savona CSD Led to $3.2 Million Deficit

District Makes Changes as Result of Audit

Campbell-Savona Central School District accumulated a general fund deficit of $3.2 million, because it ineffectively monitored district finances and adopted unrealistic budgets, according to an audit released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

“School districts must develop realistic budgets and plan for how they will meet operational and capital needs down the road,” DiNapoli said. “Now that Campbell-Savona is in deficit financing, the district and the board have to closely monitor revenues and expenses to make sure they don’t end up with another multi-million dollar deficit. It’s encouraging to see the district begin to implement our recommendations. The taxpayers ultimately pay the price for poor planning and they deserve better fiscal management.”

The district’s $3.2 million deficit represented 35 percent of the district’s 2005-06 adopted budget. The district obtained deficit financing approval from the State Legislature in 2006 and issued $3.25 million in deficit financing bonds.

The audit found the deficit financing and some changes in operation allowed the district to finish FY 2006-07 with an unreserved fund balance of $1.5 million; however, auditors determined the board does not have procedures to plan for long-term operational and capital needs, which could contribute to more financial problems in the future.

DiNapoli’s audit, covering July 2004 through June 2006, identified a number of weaknesses that led to the district’s deficit including overestimated revenues, underestimated expenditures and appropriating non-existent fund balances for six years.

The district’s independent auditors documented the district’s severe control problems in several audits, but the board failed to take or require corrective action and did not provide proper guidance to district officials.

Auditors also learned the district did not have proper controls over claims processing, fringe benefits and information technology. Specifically, the lack of controls led the district to pay:

• $356,141 in purchase orders that exceeded available appropriations;
• $2,215 in credit card purchases that lacked prior approval; and
• $12,500 in unauthorized payments and $19,562 in unauthorized benefits to employees.

Auditors learned the district’s payroll clerk questioned the legitimacy of the unauthorized payments and brought them to the attention of the former superintendent, a board member and the independent auditor but the payments continued.

The audit recommends that school officials:

• adopt budgets that accurately estimate revenues, expenditures and available fund balance, and monitor actual activity against the plan throughout the year;
• ensure sufficient appropriations are available before approving purchases;
• establish credit card policies and procedures that adequately safeguard district assets;
• ensure that all employees are covered by employment contracts or collective bargaining agreements which clearly state all compensation and benefits; and
• take appropriate steps to recover the $32,062 in unauthorized fringe benefit payments.

The district generally agreed with the audit’s findings and has begun implementing corrective action.

Click here to view the audit.

School District Accountability:
In order to improve accountability of the state’s schools, DiNapoli’s office will audit all of New York’s 834 school districts, Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) and charter schools by 2010. The State Comptroller’s office has completed 430 school audits and approximately 200 school audits are currently underway.

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