News » Local » La Porte City Utilities Audit Complete

Ridihalgh, Fuelling, Snitker, Weber, & Co. CPA’s recently released an audit on the La Porte City Utilities for the year ended June 30, 2009.

The audit reported that the Utilities’ receipts totaled $1,815,087 for the year ended June 30, 2009. The receipts included $1,653,284 in charges for services, $54,900 for bond proceeds and $22,290 for interest on investments.

Disbursements totaled $2,062,506 for the year ended June 30, 2009, of which $148,230 was for debt service.

The report included a recommendation regarding segregation of duties. The Utility has responded that they will investigate and comply with the recommendations, and implement policies to better address segregation of duties within the office.

The report also disclosed inappropriate expenditures for personal use by a Utility employee. Disbursements were made from the Utility’s band account to purchase a laptop computer for the employee’s personal use, and to pay personal bills. The employee was immediately terminated after admitting to the inappropriate personal use of Utility funds and the laptop computer was later recovered. The Utility board is working with local officials to recover the remainder of the funds.

A copy of the audit report is being provided to the Black Hawk County Attorney’s office for further investigation and is available for review in the office of the Auditor of the State and the Utility office.