HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012 Accountability Audit Report
Washington State Auditor’s Office
Accountability Audit Report
City of Port Townsend
Jefferson County
Report Date
October 16, 2013
Report No. 1010682
Issue Date
October 28, 2013
October 28, 2013
Council
City of Port Townsend
Port Townsend, Washington
Report on Accountability
We appreciate the opportunity to work in cooperation with your City to promote accountability,
integrity and openness in government. The State Auditor’s Office takes seriously our role to
advocate for government accountability and transparency and to promote positive change.
Please find attached our report on the City of Port Townsend’s accountability and compliance
with state laws and regulations and its own policies and procedures. Thank you for working with
us to ensure the efficient and effective use of public resources.
Sincerely,
TROY KELLEY
STATE AUDITOR
Washington State Auditor
Troy Kelley
Insurance Building, P.O. Box 40021 Olympia, Washington 98504-0021 (360) 902-0370 TDD Relay (800) 833-6388
Table of Contents
City of Port Townsend
Jefferson County
October 16, 2013
Audit Summary .......................................................................................................................... 1
Related Reports ......................................................................................................................... 2
Description of the City ................................................................................................................ 3
Washington State Auditor’s Office
1
Audit Summary
City of Port Townsend
Jefferson County
October 16, 2013
ABOUT THE AUDIT
This report contains the results of our independent accountability audit of the City of Port
Townsend from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012.
We evaluated internal controls and performed audit procedures on the activities of the
City. We also determined whether the City complied with state laws and regulations and
its own policies and procedures.
In keeping with general auditing practices, we do not examine every transaction, activity
or area. Instead, the areas examined were those representing the highest risk of
noncompliance, misappropriation or misuse. The following areas were examined during
this audit period:
Financial condition
Cost allocation plan
Conflict of interest/ethics laws
Insurance and bonding
Open Public Meetings Act
RESULTS
In most areas, the City complied with state laws and regulations and its own policies and
procedures.
However, we noted certain matters that we communicated to City management. We
appreciate the City’s commitment to resolving those matters.
Washington State Auditor’s Office
2
Related Reports
City of Port Townsend
Jefferson County
October 16, 2013
FINANCIAL
Our opinion on the City’s financial statements and compliance with federal grant
program requirements is provided in a separate report, which includes the City’s
financial statements.
FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAMS
We evaluated internal controls and tested compliance with the federal program
requirements, as applicable, for the City’s major federal programs, which are listed in the
Federal Summary section of the financial statement and single audit report. That report
includes a federal finding regarding internal controls over period of availability
requirements and a federal finding regarding internal controls over federal grant
reporting.
Washington State Auditor’s Office
3
Description of the City
City of Port Townsend
Jefferson County
October 16, 2013
ABOUT THE CITY
The City of Port Townsend serves 9,185 citizens in Jefferson County. The City provides
an array of services including water, sewer, storm drainage, police, parks and recreation,
planning, street maintenance and construction, library and general administrative
services. The City contracts for fire protection, court, jail and emergency medical
services. A private company provides solid waste collection services.
An elected, seven-member Council governs the City. The Council appoints a Manager
to oversee the City’s daily operations and approximately 95 employees. The City's
revenue was approximately $19 million in fiscal year 2012.
ELECTED OFFICIALS
These officials served during the audit period:
City Council Robert Gray
David King
Kris Nelson
Catharine Robinson
Michelle Sandoval
Deborah Stinson
Mark Welch
APPOINTED OFFICIALS
City Manager David Timmons
CITY CONTACT INFORMATION
Address: City of Port Townsend
250 Madison Street, Suite 1
Port Townsend, WA 98368
Phone: (360) 379-4406
Website: www.cityofpt.us
Washington State Auditor’s Office
4
AUDIT HISTORY
We audit the City’s financial statements and federal programs annually. We typically
audit the City for accountability of public resources and legal compliance biennially.
During this audit, we identified areas of high risk for accountability and determined a
limited scope accountability audit was required. There have been no accountability
findings for more than 11 years.
ABOUT THE STATE AUDITOR'S OFFICE
The State Auditor's Office is established in the state's Constitution and is part of the executive
branch of state government. The State Auditor is elected by the citizens of Washington and
serves four-year terms.
Our mission is to work with our audit clients and citizens as an advocate for government
accountability. As an elected agency, the State Auditor's Office has the independence
necessary to objectively perform audits and investigations. Our audits are designed to comply
with professional standards as well as to satisfy the requirements of federal, state, and local
laws.
The State Auditor's Office employees are located around the state to deliver services effectively
and efficiently.
Our audits look at financial information and compliance with state, federal and local laws on the
part of all local governments, including schools, and all state agencies, including institutions of
higher education. In addition, we conduct performance audits of state agencies and local
governments and fraud, whistleblower and citizen hotline investigations.
The results of our work are widely distributed through a variety of reports, which are available
on our Web site and through our free, electronic subscription service.
We take our role as partners in accountability seriously. We provide training and technical
assistance to governments and have an extensive quality assurance program.
State Auditor Troy Kelley
Chief of Staff Doug Cochran
Director of Performance and State Audit Chuck Pfeil, CPA
Director of Local Audit Kelly Collins, CPA
Deputy Director of State Audit Jan M. Jutte, CPA, CGFM
Deputy Director of Local Audit Sadie Armijo
Deputy Director of Local Audit Mark Rapozo, CPA
Deputy Director of Quality Assurance Barb Hinton
Deputy Director of Communications Thomas Shapley
Local Government Liaison Mike Murphy
Public Records Officer Mary Leider
Main number (360) 902-0370
Toll-free Citizen Hotline (866) 902-3900
Website www.sao.wa.gov
Subscription Service www.sao.wa.gov/EN/News/Subscriptions