State audit faults Remsenburg-Speonk school district
Officials with the Remsenburg-Speonk school district did not always obtain quotes when making purchases, including 10 that totaled more than $11,000, according to an audit released Friday by the state comptroller’s office.
The audit by the office of state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli also found that six purchases totaling more than $7,000 did not have proper requisition forms and two purchases — totaling more than $11,000 — were made without prior approval.
The district in eastern Suffolk County serves about 140 students and has an annual budget of $13,526,371 for 2017-18.
Friday, Superintendent Ronald Masera said the district was happy to work with the auditors who were “helpful in offering recommendations to ensure we comply with regulations and our own procurement policies.”
In the report, the comptroller’s office recommends that district officials ensure they receive verbal and written quotes when required, use requisition forms when making purchases and are aware of procurement policies.
The audit covered the time period from July 1, 2015 to April 30, 2017.
In response, school district officials said the district had a new purchasing agent. The comptroller’s office reviewed 30 purchases totaling $160,066, according to the report.
“We agree that six purchases totaling $11,714 did not have the required verbal or written quotes attached,” read the response from the district dated Dec. 11. “The new purchasing agent will ensure that district officials and employees obtain verbal or written quotes when required.”
The response also noted that the district had converted to new financial software and the district would ensure that “requisition forms are attached to all paid claims.”
The response, signed by Superintendent Ronald Masera, disputed that the two purchases totaling $11,555 were made without prior approval. One purchase totaling $1,472 was made without prior approval and steps have been taken to ensure that proper procedure would be followed. However, a second purchase noted in the report was the result of a clerical error made by a vendor on an invoice date, school officials said.
Joie Tyrrell is a Long Island native and covers education for Newsday, where she has worked since 1998.
