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By - Oliver Walling on 9/8/2014 1:45 PM
The 2015 Budget format was made available today.  It pretty much is totally revised.  There are familiar parts, but the format and flow are different.  You will also discover that there is much more narrative then there has ever been.  The narrative is in question/answer format with additional schedules required.  It looks as though they are focusing on compliance issues.  The real question is, what will their response will be to noncompliance and perjury issues.  For example, I believe most fire districts have a web site address and I believe most will certify on Page C-5 that they are in compliance.  I have visited a number of sites and many are far from compliant.  Will they be denied tax dollars to fight fires because they are missing information on their web site?  There are attorneys representing fire districts who will tell their Boards that DCA's budget approval is merely advisory and tax dollars cannot be denied to the districts.  I think there will be quite a few budget preparers this year who are just...
By - Oliver Walling on 9/3/2014 8:14 AM
On August 25, 2014 the Local Finance Board issued Local Finance Notice (LFN) 2014-13 Annual Audit Requirements for Local Authorities and Fire Districts.  This LFN is a reminder to Boards of their responsibilities as a governmental entity with regards to the annual audit.  Most importantly you must hire a knowledgeable audit firm.  Your audit must be conducted according to generally accepted auditing standards, Government Auditing Standards, and audit standards adopted by the Local Finance Board and the Department of Community Affairs and its divisions.

 

The audit must be performed by a New Jersey licensed registered municipal accountant (RMA) or certified public accountant (CPA).  The performance standards stated above further require that the auditor must be knowledgeable and competent in these standards and all applicable regulations.  Additionally, the audit firm must be in compliance with the external peer review program established by the State of New Jersey.

 

This LFN requires...

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