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NEWS from the Office of the New York State Comptroller
Contact: Press Office 518-474-4015

Comptroller DiNapoli Releases School Audits

February 24, 2016

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced his office completed audits of the Alexander Central School District, Cazenovia Central School District, Rondout Valley Central School District, Silver Creek Central School District and the Wallkill Central School District.

“In an era of limited resources and increased accountability, it’s critical that schools make every dollar count,” DiNapoli said. “By auditing school district and charter school finances and operations, my office continues to provide taxpayers the assurance that their money is being spent appropriately and effectively.”

Alexander Central School District – Financial Condition (Wyoming County)

District officials consistently overestimated expenditures over the last five fiscal years, which generated approximately $2.4 million in operating surpluses. During this time, unrestricted fund balance ranged between 5 and 7.4 percent of the ensuing year’s appropriations, exceeding the 4 percent statutory limit.

Cazenovia Central School District – Financial Condition (Onondaga County)

The board has adopted budgets with realistic revenue and expenditure estimates. However, the district’s total general fund balance has declined by more than $3.3 million (57 percent) over the past four years.  

Rondout Valley Central School District – Financial Management (Ulster County)

The district experienced operating surpluses from 2012-13 through 2014-15. During this time, revenues exceeded expenditures by more than $2.5 million. The district’s 2012-13 year-end unrestricted fund balance was 6.5 percent of the ensuing year’s appropriations, exceeding the 4 percent statutory limit imposed on unrestricted fund balance.

Silver Creek Central School District – Financial Condition (Chautauqua County)

District officials have not effectively managed fund balance and have allowed unrestricted fund balance to exceed statutory limits for the past three fiscal years. As of June 30, 2015, the district’s unrestricted fund balance totaled $2.7 million and was 12 percent of the 2015-16 budgeted appropriations, exceeding the 4 percent statutory limit by more than $1.7 million.

Wallkill Central School District – Financial Management (Ulster County)

From 2010-11 through 2014-15, the board adopted budgets with excessive appropriations that resulted in operating surpluses each year and that appropriated fund balance each year that was not necessary. The district’s total fund balance exceeded the 4 percent statutory limit each year during this period.

 

For access to state and local government spending and nearly 50,000 state contracts, visit OpenBookNY. 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.