ALBANY – As of December 31, 2017, the Town of Marlborough water fund owed the general fund $340,000. That was one of the findings in a state comptroller’s office audit of the town’s water and sewer financial operations.
The audit also found the budget officer made billing adjustments in 2017 totaling $228,146 without town board approval; that the water and sewer funds do not pay administrative costs for services they receive from the general fund; and that customers were overcharged for water and sewer late penalties in 2017 by $8,654.
State auditors recommended the town prepare an annual cost analysis to calculate the water and sewer rates to be billed; that it review and repay all outstanding interfund advances; and that it ensure late penalties are properly computed on overdue customer accounts.
Town officials generally agreed with the state recommendations and indicated they planned to initiate corrective action.
The audit covered the period of January 1, 2017 through April 5, 2018. In 2017 the town water revenue totaled over $1.1 million while the sewer revenue was over $177,800.
