Where’s the audit?

Several weeks ago, a special risk-based audit of the Winchester school district’s financial system was requested and approved by the Board of Selectmen. As spring turns to summer, residents are rightfully wondering why the audit has not been completed.The point of a risk-based audit is to review an organization’s accounting practices and make recommendations regarding their accuracy and efficiency. If the process is stalled, as it seems to be, it is possible that some irregularities have been identified or auditors are finding it particularly difficult to obtain certain information. In either case, a report should be delivered to selectmen regarding the status of the audit, along with an estimated completion date.Without a status update, Winsted residents can only wonder what is happening with their tax dollars, particularly in a year that finds the Board of Education suing the Board of Selectmen for allegedly underfunding the 2011-12 school budget and a major restructuring of the schools has been approved for the coming year. How any of this will turn out successfully for the town remains a mystery, as no significant cost savings has been identified. Elected officials continue to disagree regarding how much money will be saved, and the Board of Education has made matters more difficult by deciding not to close one of the town’s K-through-8 school buildings, as was originally anticipated.The situation is anything but simple to understand, so it makes sense that a risk-based audit should take some time, but residents have every right to be getting antsy. The 2010-11 school year will soon come to a close and it will be time to put plans for the next school year into action. If voters approve the town’s proposed budget at referendum, the school system will be facing a major cut to its budget that will require significant action, as funding will be nearly $1.5 million less than the state-mandated minimum budget requirement (MBR). If the school board is successful in suing selectmen for creating that shortfall, one can only imagine the fiscal nightmare that will follow.In any case, first things first: It’s time for auditors to complete their work, or at least tell the Board of Selectmen and the town what they’ve found so far. If major problems have been identified, they will have to be cleared up immediately so town officials can get on with the business of suing themselves.