NY Audit Discloses a Huge What???

Posted by: Curt Varone February 5, 2013 2 Comments

A New York fire district is facing an unusual problem: what to do with a $5.2 million undesignated surplus uncovered in a state audit.

The headache (to the extent a surplus can be a headache) belongs to the Brentwood Fire District, on Long Island. The surplus was uncovered by the state of New York’s Office of State Comptroller, who cited the district for unsound budgeting practices.

The audit, issued in December, 2012, contains a list of recommendations for the district, including improvements in budget development, tighter controls over credit card expenditures, improvements in ethics monitoring, and better controls over  managing their LOSAP.

Michael Poveromo, chairman of the BFD’s Board of Fire Commissioners, was quoted by Newsday.com as saying “There was a reserve fund we had for [renovating] outlying firehouses. … They were wondering why we had so much money put aside.” He also said  “We’ve taken a lot of their recommendations seriously, and we’re continually working on their recommendations as of today,”

Here is the auditors report. brentwood

More on the story.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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