REP FC 092 09/15/2009 2008-2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE DATE: September 15, 2009 Re: Comm. No. 520 PLACE: Council Chambers TIME: 3:45 pm. Council Chair and Members Hawaii County Council Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Communication No. 520, reports as follows: Communication No. 520, transmitted by Legislative Auditor Colleen Schrandt, dated September 1, 2009, submits the post-audit Financial Audit Report of the County of Hawai `i for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2008, and Management Letter dated May 27, 2009, as prepared by KPMG LLP. The Report and Management Letter satisfy the requirement of Section 10-13, Hawaii County Charter, which requires that an annual independent audit of the accounts and other evidences of financial transactions of the County and every county agency be conducted. KPMG LLP has issued an unqualified opinion, indicating that the financial statement present fairly in all material respects, the financial position of Hawaii County for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2008, in conformance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. This year's Management Letter contains findings and recommendations related to: ? Collection Receivables • Deficiencies in landfill receivables, the County has continued in its efforts to improve collections of landfill fees and to reduce the amounts outstanding over 90 days. Despite these efforts, the amounts outstanding over 90 days as a percentage of total receivables increased from 36% at June 30, 2007 to 42% at June 30, 2008. • For sewer receivables, efforts made in previous years, including the passing of a bill to facilitate the County's collection of past-due sewer charges and an increase in the interest charge on past-due balances, have resulted in the County maintaining a steady balance in their overdue category as indicated by the amounts outstanding over 90 days as a percentage of total receivables of 55% at both June 30, 2008 and 2007. • KPMG, LLP recommends that the Department of Environmental Management continue to work with the Department of Finance to improve collection efforts on delinquent accounts. The Department of Environmental Management plans to fill a new Credit and Collections Clerk position during 2009, which will focus on the collection of past-due landfill and wastewater receivables. The addition of this dedicated position should assist in providing improved collection efforts and address the backlog in the 90 days overdue category for both landfill and wastewater receivables. At the Finance Committee meeting, KPMG LLP representatives Managing Partner Nancy Rose and Senior Auditor Grant Nakagawa made a brief presentation of the scope of the audit services, the results of the audit, required communications, the Management Letter comments, and the compliance and internal controls over Federal awards. FC REPORT NO. 92