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Audit Objective

Determine whether the Board and Village officials developed realistic budgets and long-term financial plans.

Key Findings

• The Board and Village officials did not develop realistic budgets. From 2016-17 through 2018-19, budgeted appropriations in the general, water and sewer funds exceeded actual expenditures by a total of $4.9 million (a 39 percent budget variance). Officials also appropriated $3.6 million of fund balance during this period that was not needed to fund operations.
• The Board has not adopted a fund balance policy or multiyear financial and capital plans.

Key Recommendations

• Adopt budgets with realistic estimates of appropriations and financing sources based on historical trends and/or known plans.
• Develop multiyear financial and capital plans and a fund balance policy.

Village officials generally disagreed with our findings and recommendations. Appendix B includes our comments on issues raised in the Village’s response letter.