CHAUTAUQUA-A recent audit from the comptroller’s office showed an unidentified balance totaling approximately $3,100 in the payroll account and an unidentified balance totaling approximately $3,900 in the pension account of Chautauqua Utility District, which provides water, sewer and lighting services to approximately 1,400 customers.
The purpose of the audit, according to the Comptroller, was to determine if banking transactions were adequately safeguarded for the period January 1, 2014 through March 27, 2017.
The District, which is governed by an elected five-member Board of Commissioners, was established by an act of the New York State Legislature in 1934. Budgeted appropriations for 2016 totaled approximately $1.3 million.
The Board, according to the audit, has not adopted comprehensive written policies or adequately segregated financial duties to properly monitor banking activities.
Key recommendations from the Comptroller’s Office include:
- Develop policies and procedures for banking activities which include segregating duties and monitoring and overseeing transactions.
- Conduct an analysis of the payroll and pension accounts to determine the nature and source of the excess money held in these accounts
Chautauqua Utility District Board Chairman Bob McClure wasn’t immediately available for comment Friday afternoon.