Tuesday, February 01, 2011
City Audit by Clifton Gunderson Available to the Public
Clifton Gunderson is delivering copies of the audit to the Clerk's office Friday morning. The copies are for public distribution so if anyone would like a hard copy of the audit prior to next Wednesday's Finance Committee Meeting they should be able to pick one up Friday afternoon or Monday morning. Our Treasurer will also have the audit available in pdf format so it can be emailed to those whom wish to have it delivered electronically. the email address for requests is ghylla@peru.il.us if they would like a copy emailed to them.
The audit is easier to read this year and is 94 pages versus the 169 page be-moth we had in previous years plus it contains a considerable amount of information.
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17 comments:
It will be a great benefit to all concerned citizens to be able to view an audit that provides an accurate description of city finances. But more important is the fact that for the first time in many years the annual audit will be presented in a format that can actually be understood by the citizens of Peru. In previous years the annual audit might as well have been presented in some form of ancient sand-script because you needed a Masters degree in accounting to stand a chance to make heads or tails of it. I am convinced that situation was by design. For at least the past six audits the first few pages contained what were basically a disclaimer from the auditing firm of Wilcoxson & Associates informing the reader that they are unable to provide an accurate accounting of city finances because of the failure of the city to adhere to the "accepted accounting standards and record keeping practices". Basically, Wilcoxson was saying based on the data the city was providing we can't really say what your financial position is. So, it could be real good. Or?
And each and every year the aldermen would recieve a copy for their review.
And each and every year I would call Judy to request my copy and I would ask her if that years edition contained the same disclaimer as per usual. She would inform me it does and I would ask her if she could tell my why the accounting firm felt it necessary to basically distance themselves from the audit. And each and every year Judy would tell me that was nothing to be concerned about and the audits did not contain a negative financial report. She was right. It was not negative or positive, it was just a mass of raw data that apparently made no sense to anybody, including the auditor.
So, each and every year the previous administration would announce the audit as a great success that showed a healthy and vibrant financial picture for Peru. Followed by the usual back-slapping and comments of congratulations from the aldermen as they proceeded to vote unanimously to accept the audit without a single word of discussion.
I really don't believe many of them ever actually read the audit. If they did they sure ignored that disclaimer.
Thank you to Mayor Harl and Treasurer Hylla for finally allowing an honest accounting of our money. Now at least we can be sure where we stand financially.
So far I know of 2 bloggers who have gone for their copy. Don't know how the first person got theirs but the second one called me to say that the City Clerk was not too happy about giving them out because the audit had not been presented to and approved by the city council. They were given the copy but city clerks office was not happy that they were not informed prior. I will go for my copy on Monday and maybe the bugs will have been worked out by then.
This is something that should be posted to the web page as a matter of routine. People should not have to ask for it. The same goes for the monthly financial reports which tend to run several months late. The most recent one available is November.
Peru still has a communications problem. I have seen very little improvment in the timely distribution of routine documents via the web page.
I won't hold my breath, but It also makes sense to post the contents of the Alderman's packet before the meeting.
How wonderful, to finally have a Mayor and City Clerk, and Treasurer, who are doing a good job.
Finally all the citizens in Peru, can know what is going on.
6:40AM Brian
It is annoying to have to wait weeks for the minutes and reports to finally be available via the city web site. Perhaps it is time for some of us to to bring that up.
I don't understand why council meeting minutes can't be available within 2 days of the meeting. If I can sit here at my computer and put comments, reports or anything else online, the city should be able to also with their data.
I would like to add "put online quickly"
Lois,
The minutes of any local government meeting are not done until they are approved by the council. Once the council takes action, they should be available by paper or online with a few clicks of the mouse. But the minutes are not the minutes until approved, so that would take until the next meeting. I thought that was worth clarifying.
You are right and I should have recalled that. It is just protocol as we know there is never a challenge to them. Certainly video taping meetings would eliminate some of this delay of information to the people.
It's true about the minutes of the meetings but I have often heard the council refer to a document they just received and then they begin to discuss it. I have often thought that those documents should be made available to the public in case they have any questions.
I have to admit I understand Clerk Bartley's reluctance to provide the audit to the public before it has been formally approved and accepted by the city council. It is just a formality but I don't believe the city is required to provide it until it's accepted and approved.
Oh well! There are some curious folks out there.
If that is the case Steve then apparently there is a definite lack of communication between the Treasurer and the City Clerk or a different point of view regarding the audit. It was definitely stated that the copies were for public distribution.
As of today tuesday, Has anyone received a copy of the city audit before the council or whomever has approved it ?
I talked to the city clerk yesterday and he said 5 copies had been picked up.
Oh well, I hope that the those curious folks are the candidates for aldermen.
The recent published city audit is a joke.
Why would anyone believe that a financial audit takes place at the close of business on APRIL 30, 2010 AND LOW AND BEHOLD THE PUBLIC GETS TO SEE THE RESULTS IN FEB. 2011, 8 MONTHS LATER.
This is totally nuts. What company would run a business with knowing the results 8 months after the books have been closed?
This really is AN OPEN ADMINISTRATION !
Like I said what a joke. No wonder it is looks like the blind leading the blind.
This was a very through audit done by a reputable cpa. Hope to see you at the finance meeting today to ask your questions to the Clifton Gunderson firm who will be present to answer them
ANON 10:47 Instead of crabbing and complaining on this blog why didn't you attend the finance meeting and present your comments to the proper personnel? If you're really that upset and angry do something about it!
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