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EASTCHESTER, N.Y. – A state audit of the Eastchester Fire District – which is responsible for protecting Eastchester, Tuckahoe and Bronxville – found an operating deficit of $195,000 last year.
The office of State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said the Board of Fire Commissioners, which comprises five elected officials, overspent on various budget line items, which led to the deficit.
The comptroller’s office also found that the board did not develop a capital plan to address the district’s deteriorating infrastructure, and said the district isn’t proactive but addresses maintenance needs on an emergency basis.
The audit also said the district’s financial records did not comply with accounting standards set forth by the comptroller, and the district’s treasurer was not provided with necessary training. Additionally, the district paid $394,191 to 11 professional services vendors without competitive bidding. The audit covered the period from Jan. 1, 2010, to Dec. 31, 2011.
Calls to Eastchester fire personnel were not returned to The Daily Voice.
In his letter to the Board of Fire Commissioners, DiNapoli said the audit is a way for the state to help identify strategies to reduce costs and strengthen controls intended to safeguard government assets.
“The audit’s results and recommendations are resources for local government officials to use in effectively managing operations and in meeting the expectations of constituents,” he said.
The district employs 72 paid firefighters and covers an area of nearly five square miles, serving 34,000 residents. The district’s budget was about $14.5 million the past two years.
In response to the audit, the Board of Fire Commissioners agreed to adopt a formal policy for internal controls, find a certified accountant to train the treasurer and develop a long-term capital improvement plan by March 31, 2013.
In a letter to the comptroller’s office, the commissioners agreed to get the district in compliance with all local and state laws.
“The Board truly understands our interests are directly aligned with that of the Office of the State Comptroller and our taxpayers,” it said. “We are very grateful for the vast time and energy expended to produce the audit findings.”
Attached: State audit of the Eastchester Fire District (eastchester_fire_district-audit-2012-09-07.pdf)
Comments (5)
"The Board did not fulfill its responsibilities of stewardship, oversight, and leadership. The Board did not comply with the law or the Office of the State Comptroller’s (OSC) standards and did not establish sound business practices. Furthermore, the Board did not properly develop or monitor the District’s budget and over-expended funds on various budget line items, which caused an operating deficit of $195,000 in 2011."
This is the beginning of the summary of the NYS Comptroller's audit. The EFD Bd has a fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers. Overpayments have been discovered (repayment schedule ?). Normal financial controls which have been repeatedly recommended by EFD's auditors - and ignored. It takes the NYS Comptroller's office to bring this $15mil enterprise into the real world.
No one is denigrating the service of the men/women of the EFD, but to ignore your own auditor's paid advice... and common sense...is just plain irresponsible.
Jeff - Not to downplay the comment you made in support of the EFD, but just for clarification, the Eastchester Volunteer Ambulance Corps handles the EMS calls for the Town of Eastchester, and Villages of Bronxville and Tuckahoe with first response support provided by the 3 Police Departments and the Eastchester Fire Department for certain EMS calls depending on the nature and type of call.
Thanks,
Kevin O'Donnell, Deputy Chief EVAC
kod@eastchesterems.com
Everyone knows the Eastchester Fire Board of Commissioners is corrupt and out of control, perpetuating a system of cronyism accountable to no one. If the town of Eastchester took over fire fighting responsibilities, taxpayers would save MILLIONS of dollars. But guess what? No one has the courage to take them on.
The EFD is a professional and solid department. This year alone they knocked down three fires in Tuckahoe. One at Bubblemania, one at the red brick building at Main St. and Fairview Ave. and one on Lake Ave. These fires could have been a disaster for our village being as densely populated as we are. This on top of handling all of the EMS calls in town. If you know of corruption then say it. Be Specific. Don't speak in riddles or secret code. To criticize a great department with unsubstantiated allegations is bogus to say the least. Jeff Meyer Tuckahoe, NY