Audits of Local Governments

The Office of the New York State Comptroller’s Division of Local Government and School Accountability conducts performance audits of local governments and school districts. Performance audits provide findings or conclusions based on an evaluation of evidence against criteria. Local officials use audit findings to improve program performance and operations, reduce costs and contribute to public accountability.

For audits older than 2013, contact us at [email protected].

For audits of State and NYC agencies and public authorities, see Audits.

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3646 Audits Found

School District | Information Technology

December 30, 2022 –

District officials did not maintain appropriate IT asset inventory records or establish adequate IT controls over network user accounts.

Fire District | Claims Auditing, Purchasing

December 30, 2022 –

The Board did not ensure that goods and services were procured in accordance with the procurement policy and that all claims were approved prior to payment.

School District | Employee Benefits

December 30, 2022 –

District officials did not properly account for leave accruals for 22 of the 49 employees' accrual records that we tested. The District may incur $47,817 in additional payroll costs if the errors are not corrected.

School District | Other

December 23, 2022 –

District officials did not submit SSBA allocation claims totaling $1.35 million, related to eligible technology purchases made during fiscal years 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22.

Town | Other

December 23, 2022 –

A Town official had a prohibited interest in Town contracts.

School District | Information Technology

December 16, 2022 –

District officials did not establish adequate controls over network user accounts. As a result, the District has an increased risk of unauthorized access to and use of its network and potential loss of important data. In addition to finding sensitive information technology (IT) control weaknesses that were confidentially communicated to officials.

School District | Claims Auditing, Purchasing

December 16, 2022 –

The Board and District officials did not ensure goods and services were procured in accordance with applicable statutes and/or District policy and did not ensure claims were properly audited and approved prior to payment.

Town | Other

December 16, 2022 –

Two Town officials had prohibited interests in Town contracts.

School District | Employee Benefits

December 16, 2022 –

Although overtime was properly approved, District officials did not monitor overtime to ensure it was accurate. Had officials established adequate controls, the District's overtime costs may have been reduced by at least $167,000. As a result, officials are paying more for overtime than necessary.

Town | Claims Auditing, Purchasing

December 16, 2022 –

The Board did not always seek competition when procuring goods and services or ensure all claims were properly audited and approved. When goods and services are not competitively procured, they may not be procured in a cost-effective manner. Also, when claims are not properly audited, the Board's ability to effectively monitor the Town's financial operations is diminished.

Town | Clerks

December 9, 2022 –

The Clerk did not record, deposit, remit or report collections in a timely and accurate manner. As a result, the Board's ability to effectively monitor financial operations was diminished. Had the Board conducted the required annual audits, it may have recognized these deficiencies and taken corrective action.

School District | Information Technology

December 9, 2022 –

District officials did not ensure network user accounts were needed, and they did not adopt an adequate IT contingency plan. In addition to sensitive IT control weaknesses that we communicated confidentially to officials.

Fire Company or Department | General Oversight

December 9, 2022 –

The Company Board did not ensure compliance with contracts or enforce the lease agreement's terms and conditions. As a result, there is an increased risk that funds could be subject to loss, theft or misappropriation.

Town | Inventories

December 9, 2022 –

Town officials did not adequately safeguard and account for Department assets.

Town | Claims Auditing

December 9, 2022 –

The Board was not properly auditing claims prior to approving them for payment. As a result, the risk is increased that claims could have been paid for inappropriate purposes.

Town | Other

December 2, 2022 –

Town officials did not establish long-term capital and financial plans to address the Town's Highway Department equipment needs.

County | Information Technology

December 2, 2022 –

County officials did not adequately protect the Department's electronic data containing PPSI. In addition to sensitive information technology (IT) control weaknesses communicated confidentially to officials.

Village | Claims Auditing

December 2, 2022 –

The Board did not ensure that claims were adequately supported, for appropriate Village purposes and audited before payment.

Town | Records and Reports

December 2, 2022 –

In 2017, OSC issued an audit report that included findings that the Town's accounting records and reports were incomplete, inaccurate and could not be relied on to make financial decisions. The Supervisor has continued to not maintain the Town's accounting records and reports in a complete, accurate, up-to-date or timely manner. Without reliable accounting records, the Board cannot make sound financial decisions.

School District | Information Technology

December 2, 2022 –

District officials did not establish adequate controls over network user accounts and did not develop a written IT contingency plan. As a result, the District had additional entry points for attackers to access and view personal, private and sensitive information on the network and did not have sufficient documented guidance or plans to follow to resume essential operations if an unexpected IT incident occurred. In addition to finding sensitive IT control weaknesses that were confidentially communicated to officials.