North Adams Council To Hear Fiscal Reports
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The last review letter from Scanlon & Associates had found some 19 deficiencies in city's handling of finances; this time around, the firm highlighted three for fiscal 2011. The audit is included below in the council agenda.
In its recommendations, Scanlon pointed to year-end transfers to cover overtime and retroactive pay (suggesting better line-item budgeting); the continued lack of a policies and procedures manual; and the use of older financial software.
The review letter did note the city's move away from using non-renewable accounts to cover its budget and the building of financial reserves; the start of capital planning; proper utilization and reporting of certain accounts; and the maintenance of the health insurance trust fund as recommended last year.
However, it found continued problems with procurement and expenditures reporting, investment policy, and internal auditing.
Mayor Richard Alcombright will recommend a review of outstanding tax receipts requested by Councilor Alan Marden be referred to the Financial Committee, which Marden chairs.
A review of the tax records by Administrative Officer Michael Canales show the city collected 96 percent to 97 percent of the net tax levy each of the last four years.
More than half the property taxes due in fiscal 2012 have been received, with the final quarterly bills due on May 1.
Delinquencies are still in the several hundred thousand dollar range, with nearly $400,000 due from last fiscal year and some $1.75 million taken by tax title or possession.
Collection of excise taxes has been 97-98 percent except for fiscal 2011 (94 percent), for which about $51,000 is still due out of a net levy of $819,000.
Water and sewer collections were also high over the same period.
The mayor will also bring back the issue of diagonal parking on the north side of Main Street between Eagle and Holden streets with a written report from the Traffic Commission with the new trial dates of July 1, 2012, to June 30, 2013. The commission is suggesting that meters be bagged but parking limited to one hour. The city stands to lose about about $4,400 in meter fees during the yearlong experiment.
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Tags: agenda, audit, town budget,
