FOR RELEASE

FOR RELEASE: Immediately

August 31, 2011

DiNapoli Completes School Audits

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced his office completed the audits of the Plainedge Union Free School District and the East Ramapo Central School District.

“My office’s audits of school districts and BOCES help schools improve their financial management practices,” DiNapoli said. “These audits are tools for schools to make sure proper policies and procedures are in place to protect taxpayer dollars and provide students with the best possible education.”

East Ramapo Central School District - Internal Controls Over Selected Financial Activities (Rockland County)

District officials allowed the Board President, Vice President, and a Board member to continue receiving health insurance coverage while neglecting to reimburse the District. As of June 2010, the two Board members had health insurance coverage even though the Board President owed $9,017, and the other Board member owed $6,655, for a total of $15,672. In addition, the Vice President defaulted on his health insurance payments from June 2009 through November 2009, owing a balance of $1,282. He repaid the District on January 1, 2010, and cancelled his health insurance. District officials also failed to procure professional services totaling $2.4 million through the use of competition, and allowed two professionals to be paid $495,023 despite the lack of written agreements. Finally, District officials inaccurately projected a June 30, 2010, fund balance of $13,153,000 when preparing the District's 2010-11 budget. In fact, the District's audited financial statement showed a June 30, 2010 fund balance of $17,793,047.

To read the New York State Comptroller's audit of East Ramapo school district, go to http://www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/audits/index.htm and click on a pdf of the report.

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