State Audit: Sachem Has Established Adequate Internal Controls Over Purchasing

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli recently announced his office completed an audit of the Sachem Central School District.

Overall, the audit says that the district has established adequate internal controls over purchasing and that the controls are working effectively, according to the document released by DiNapoli’s office earlier this month. The report covers the period of July 1, 2008 to May 31, 2010.

“My office’s audits of school districts and BOCES help schools improve their financial management practices,” DiNapoli said in a statement. “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.”

Sachem’s Assistant Superintendent for Business, Bruce Singer, is the purchasing agent responsible for designing internal controls that help ensure the prudent and economical use of taxpayer money when procuring goods and services, the audit says.

The district does provide guidance, according to the comptroller’s office, and it ensures they obtain the best quality goods and services at the lowest possible price.

During the period of the audit, Sachem was awarded contracts for 360 purchase and service contracts totaling $15.4 million, which consisted of 219 bids and 112 quotes. The comptroller’s office examined 38 of those contracts, totaling $4.7 million.

“We also determined that district officials sought the proper competition for the items, properly initiated and approved the purchase orders before making the purchases, and verified the receipt of goods and/or services,” the audit says.

Singer and district officials were pleased with the results.

“We are extremely proud of the fact that Sachem School District has established adequate internal controls and is safeguarding community tax dollars,” Singer said. “This speaks volumes of the dedicated and conscientious staff in the school district.”

Since the comptroller’s office found nothing wrong with Sachem’s internal controls, there were no corrective action plans put in place.

“We look forward to any future audits, as the Sachem School District continues to be a model of outstanding fiscal prudence for others to emulate,” Singer said.