New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced his office completed audits of the Village of Attica, Columbia County Department of Weights and Measures, Village of Harriman and the Town of Westfield.

“In today’s fiscal climate, budget transparency and accountability for our local communities is a top priority,” said DiNapoli. “By auditing municipal finances and operations, my office continues to provide taxpayers the assurance that their money is being spent appropriately and effectively.”

Village of Attica – Justice Court (Wyoming County)

The village justices did not properly account for all court fines, fees and surcharges. Auditors found, however, that the current justice generally made timely and intact deposits, and all monthly reports were submitted to the state Justice Court Fund in a timely manner.

Columbia County Department of Weights and Measures – Internal Controls Over Revenue Collection (2013M-400)

The county has not established effective internal controls over the department’s revenue collections. Billings for inspection fees and fines totaling $4,490 were not recorded and uncollected fees and fines totaling over $600 have not been collected. Also, the department does not charge inspection fees up to the maximum amounts permitted by regulation.

Village of Harriman – Audit Follow-Up (Orange County)

It appears that the village has made progress implementing corrective action. Of the four previous audit recommendations, two recommendations were implemented and two recommendations were partially implemented.

Town of Westfield – Financial Management (Chautauqua County)

For the last three completed fiscal years, the board adopted budgets that inappropriately allocated $223,080 in state retirement contributions and medical insurance costs to the highway town-outside-village fund, and sales and use tax revenues totaling $88,605 to the general town-wide fund. This caused an inequity in favor of the taxpayers that reside in the village of Westfield at the expense of those taxpayers that reside outside the village.

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For access to state and local government spending and nearly 50,000 state contracts, visit http://www.openbooknewyork.com. The easy-to-use website was created by Comptroller DiNapoli to promote openness in government and provide taxpayers with better access to the financial workings of government.