Brasher Falls Central School District – Financial Condition (2019M-158)

Issued Date
October 25, 2019

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Audit Objective

Determine whether the Board and District officials effectively managed the District’s financial condition.

Key Findings

  • The surplus fund balance in the general fund exceeded the 4 percent statutory limit for the past three fiscal years. As of June 30, 2018, the District’s surplus fund balance was $2.15 million, which was 4.9 percentage points or nearly $1.2 million over the legal limit.
  • During the past three fiscal years, the District appropriated fund balance and reserves that it did not use and generated operating surpluses totaling about $5 million. The District also overestimated appropriations by an average of $2.4 million each year or by 10.5 percent. During this time, total reserves increased by $3.9 million.
  • District officials have not developed a comprehensive multiyear financial plan.

Key Recommendations

  • Ensure the surplus fund balance complies with the statutory limit and use surplus funds to fund one-time expenditures or needed reserves, pay off debt and/or reduce property taxes.
  • Develop a comprehensive multiyear financial plan.

District officials generally agreed with our recommendations and indicated they planned to initiate corrective action.