North county water district member wants documentation
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Days after an audit by the state Comptroller's Office blasted the North Chautauqua County Water District, a district board member demanded regular looks at financial reports.
"The way we were raked over the coals by the auditor, I'd like to know," David Hazelton said last week at the district's board's monthly meeting.
According to Rich Lewis, vice-chairman, reports are sent by Chairman Dan Pacos to board members who lead municipalities -- namely, town supervisors and Brocton Mayor Craig Miller. Pacos did not attend Thursday's meeting.
However, Hazelton is neither a supervisor nor a mayor. So he doesn't get the reports.
Lewis said he would recommend to Pacos that all board members get the "financials." Board member Terry Niebel commented, "It's just a couple more emails."
The Comptroller's Office audit, released earlier this month, stated "the (NCWD) board, County Legislature and other county officials did not adopt realistic budgets, routinely monitor the district's financial operations or take appropriate actions to maintain the district's financial stability. As such, all county taxpayers have been indirectly funding district operations instead of just the real property owners who benefitted from the district's services."
The audit cited a negative cash balance of more than $5 million; an overestimation of revenues by $1.6 million from 2019-22, related to budgeted water usage numbers that were too high; and the failure to repay the use of $5.2 million from the county's general fund to help finance the district's operations.