Audit finds deficiencies at Clear Lake Shores

An audit of Clear Lake Shores' 2008-09 finances revealed several deficiencies, including warrants not being issued in a timely manner.
During its meeting Tuesday, City Council approved the annual review that was conducted by Belt Harris & Associates, LLLP. In a letter, the firm wrote that the city was lax in issuing warrants for failure to appear, nonpayment of fines, and noncompliance with payment plans.
The delay was caused by a shortage of employees because of maternity leave and the unexpected resignation of an employee, according to interviews of employees conducted by Belt, Harris & Associates.
A new employee has since been hired and the warrants are now up to date, City Administrator/Police Chief Paul Shelley said.
It's all worked out and taken care of," Shelley said. We're getting them out as soon as we can now."
Belt Harris & Associates also noted in the letter that the city's documentation of some disbursements was weak or nonexistent." There were also instances of there not being receipts for goods and services as well as reimbursements for purchases with or without receipts being handwritten by the person seeking reimbursement and services paid for without an invoice.
In its letter, Belt Harris & Associates recommended that the city consider implementing a purchasing policy that defines and mandates acceptable documentation for payment of reimbursements and other disbursements.
Other significant deficiencies were related to expenditures in excess of appropriations, employee I-9 forms, and quarterly investment reports.
Each of those areas has been addressed, Shelley said. He said he is fine with the findings of Belt Harris & Associates.
Our audit was actually very good," Shelley said. It was pretty clean."