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...4..___._-~ <br /> REPORT OF THE <br /> COMMITTEE ON FINANCE <br /> DATE: July 9, 2007 RE: Comm. No. 496 <br /> PLACE: Council Chambers <br /> TIME: 9:41 a.m. <br /> Council Chair and Members <br /> Hawaii County Council <br /> Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br /> Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Communication No. 496, reports as follows: <br /> Communication No. 496, transmitted by Legislative Auditor, Colleen Schrandt, dated June 27, 2007, <br /> submits the post-audit Financial Audit Report of the County of Hawai `i for the Fiscal Year Ended <br /> <br /> June 30, 2006, and Management Letter dated Apri127, 2007, as prepared by KPMG LLP. <br /> KPMG LLP has issued an unqualified opinion, indicating that the financial statements present fairly in <br /> all material respects, the financial position of Hawaii County for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2006, in <br /> conformance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. <br /> This year's Management Letter contains findings and recommendations related to: <br /> ? Collection of Receivables <br /> • Deficiencies in landfill receivables, the County has continued in its efforts to improve <br /> collections of landfill fees and to reduce the amounts outstanding over 90 days. These <br /> continued efforts have resulted in a decrease in the amounts outstanding over 90 days as a <br /> percentage of total receivables from 28% at June 30, 2005 to 24% at June 30, 2006. <br /> • For sewer receivables, a bill was passed by the County Council which makes the property <br /> owner ultimately responsible for the sewer bills. Previously, the account holder was billed, <br /> which was often a lessor or a renter. By making the owner responsible, the County will <br /> now be able to place a lien on the property for past-due sewer charges. Although this may <br /> not have immediate results, this is an important step towards improving future collections. <br /> Additionally, effective October 1, 2005, a monthly 1 interest charge on past-due <br /> balances replaced the previous one time penalty of 10%. These efforts have resulted in a <br /> decrease in the amounts outstanding over 90 days as a percentage of total receivable from <br /> 63% at June 30, 2005 to 54% at June 30, 2006. <br /> • KPMG, LLP recommends that the Department of Environmental Management continue to <br /> work with the Department of Finance to improve collection efforts on delinquent accounts. <br /> For landfill receivables, this means to focus on specific delinquent accounts as <br /> approximately 57% of the landfill receivable balance outstanding more than 90 days at June <br /> 30, 2006 relates to a few customers. For sewer receivables, the focus should be on <br /> enforcing the changes made in the bill that was recently approved and place liens on the <br /> properties of delinquent account holders. <br /> FC REPORT NO. 116 <br /> <br />