[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6499696,"mediaKeyId","5681113-b7384088b33ec1974a9a30ef7b328c8a","parentId",5681113,"title","Woonsocket receives draft FY2023 audit; auditors identify four material weaknesses and low undesignated fund balance","audioSeconds",2012,"startMs",82395,"endMs",2095140,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5681113-b7384088b33ec1974a9a30ef7b328c8a&start=82&end=2095","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5681113-b7384088b33ec1974a9a30ef7b328c8a/thumbnail_82395.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6499696/Woonsocket-City/Providence-County/Rhode-Island/Woonsocket-receives-draft-FY2023-audit-auditors-identify-four-material-weaknesses-and-low-undesignated-fund-balance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6499696-6d40ee4c4524bdfa5ec3003e6924467c/orig.mp4?Expires=1773715400&Signature=D0CP0HUdQcSpW6lBkaWgKxADaqPT9FyNoFUx~UprAf1cUSWPZN-99cSl5j8LuMYqQ7uvnOfNZojUnXISDXnjY4WtavL2ZC1HWM5Ez5Nyf6JAZb4Y6c1I7vshg3gzIAcrfR42h~hnv1~PxIivXngoZbTTc2PAEnu9GWYyWcJzSkIvx5ooRsR4YYVySKSTOtXhelSYOXIU1UGYkh8KddRpZDY~3a2ruA-JYIUSSkPfjBCGsud8da2Rpn8muxSPMqY54wDoJl1ZCAgBzphBJgyIm-CDdlzFsExMmVRV9PDqbE-p8vLdf6Ho~aTxVP9sMCVRfmUC1G~~dLqlhOoHp2NdAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Woonsocket, RI","date","2025-08-26T11:51:29Z","article","The Woonsocket City Council on Monday, Aug. 25, voted unanimously to receive the draft fiscal year 2023 audit and authorized management to sign the representation letter so auditors can finalize the report.

Jim Wilkinson, managing director with CBIZ, presented the audit highlights and told the council the audit is in its final stages pending a few open items. \"We are in the final final stages,\" Wilkinson said, and indicated the firm planned to issue the audit once the council accepted the draft and management provided the representation letter.

CBIZ reported the city's total general fund balance increased by about $275,000 for the year ended June 30, 2023. The audit shows an undesignated general fund balance just under $1,900,000, which Wilkinson said represented about 2.3% of general fund expenditures for the year — below the benchmarks rating agencies and the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) typically recommend (Wilkinson referenced recommended ranges in the meeting).

Other financial details presented by CBIZ included: total city revenues of roughly $81.4 million for fiscal 2023; property tax revenue of about $53.2 million; investment income of roughly $158,000 (up from about $13,000 the prior year); and proceeds of about $947,000 from the sale of a school building shown in restricted fund balance. Total expenditures and transfers out were presented as approximately $82.2 million. The general fund made a transfer of $16.5 million to the Woonsocket Education Department to support operations.

The city's ARPA fund carried about $30 million of unspent federal assistance at year end; approximately $5.4 million of ARPA funds were spent in fiscal 2023, primarily on infrastructure and allowable COVID-related purposes. Wilkinson said the ARPA program is a major program in the firm's single-audit selection and that the single-audit compliance report was still in process, with the firm targeting issuance by September.

CBIZ reported four material weaknesses to be disclosed in the audit package. Wilkinson described them as: deficiencies in internal controls over financial reporting (timing and completeness of closing processes); issues with fixed asset records and an audit adjustment related to the sale of a school building; and two IT-related material weaknesses (insufficient maintenance of complementary user controls for cloud-based ERP systems and instances where inappropriate users had been given administrative rights). He said those IT issues create segregation-of-duties risks and recommended steps including strengthened user access controls and clearer documentation of procedures.

Wilkinson also recommended an improved, robust monthly closing calendar, clearer documentation of policies and procedures, annual conflict-of-interest statements for staff involved in internal control functions, and a whistleblower hotline to support activity-level controls.

Council members asked several substantive follow-ups. Councilman Kenoyer asked whether the audit should have noted the Mendon Road land sale (a contract was signed in April 2023 and the closing occurred in October 2023); Wilkinson and the city's finance leadership described the closing as a subsequent event that will be audited fully in the FY2024 audit with look-back procedures. The city solicitor said the contract signing in fiscal 2023 could merit a reference, and the auditors said they would discuss the matter with the solicitor and management.

Councilman DuBois pressed for specifics on the IT administrative-privilege findings and whether inappropriate access had been used; finance staff said the city is addressing user privileges with its ERP vendor and that the finding reflected the opportunity for control weaknesses rather than a documented misuse in the audit record.

Several council members and the mayor praised Wilkinson and the finance team for progress in moving audits forward and building stronger monthly reconciliations and documented procedures. The council voted 6-0 to receive the draft audit and give management permission to sign the representation letter, a step Wilkinson said would allow CBIZ to finalize and issue the audit report.

No final single-audit report or management letter was issued at the meeting; Wilkinson said the single-audit compliance report and the management letter would be issued together once outstanding items were resolved.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Special Meeting - August 25th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council accepted the draft fiscal year 2023 audit and authorized management to sign the representation letter so auditors can issue the final report. CBIZ reported four material weaknesses, low undesignated general fund balance (about $1.9 million, ~2.3%), an ongoing single-audit for ARPA funds, and flagged IT and internal control issues.","taxTitle","Woonsocket City , Providence County, Rhode Island","taxId",52804,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6499701,"Woonsocket council authorizes talks with Narragansett Bay Commission on wastewater plant",33,47565,80655,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5681113-b7384088b33ec1974a9a30ef7b328c8a&start=47&end=80","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5681113-b7384088b33ec1974a9a30ef7b328c8a/thumbnail_47565.jpg","/articles/6499701/Woonsocket-City/Providence-County/Rhode-Island/Woonsocket-council-authorizes-talks-with-Narragansett-Bay-Commission-on-wastewater-plant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6499701-b8de9e50725977a5f5173b840e86f8ac/orig.mp4?Expires=1773715400&Signature=UjvR5iGFeQ8bnQ4v5QpEdJ6aHXQSf-goo-RNKKiMG7MNLBavzXAKECgkvYPpTp~mtrh0fKZIaEaNUgVnQpfUUPboJw12jP1rE~qVOwg7vfgT6AYLYEspi14oQy0tsTKBdgbVi0ErxqmdwPylp8afNwUI07~xhgapkLaOElcVgj4VpB2X-mic3sCR5R0xVJN-TCKSnZj6FkmiXmZM7WeUBC~3ZUvFVqkaCzBQJI5DVWDicfqnGJKaQvVNsePyoQOnJRj9pWriVNsX4mrxCs2VZdgw97UVnT-zciy0TkYDfQyS03pFstUUWIDKcC-Uc7DVvR~igtQWjQFIgGmiW7ecTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Woonsocket City Council on Monday, Aug. 25, approved Resolution 25 R 1 10 authorizing the administration to open negotiations with the Narragansett Bay Commission about a potential transfer of ownership of the city's wastewater treatment facility.

Councilman DuBois moved the resolution and Councilwoman Fox seconded. Council President Gendron called for comments; none were offered. The council voted 6-0 to approve the resolution.

The resolution, read aloud at the meeting, directs the administration to begin discussions with the Narragansett Bay Commission concerning a potential ownership transfer of the wastewater treatment facility. The motion recorded in the meeting minutes was limited to authorizing the administration to open negotiations; no further commitments, terms or timelines were presented or voted on this evening.

The vote and the authorization to negotiate mark the start of a process; the agenda and the discussion on the floor did not include agreed terms, a timetable for transfer, or financing details. Council members did not state whether the city would retain any operational role or what approvals would be required if negotiations progress.

The council took the resolution as a single-action item and moved on to other business once the vote was recorded.","The Woonsocket City Council on Aug. 25 unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the administration to open negotiations with the Narragansett Bay Commission on a potential transfer of the city's wastewater treatment facility.","actionData","errors"]

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Woonsocket receives draft FY2023 audit; auditors identify four material weaknesses and low undesignated fund balance

Woonsocket council authorizes talks with Narragansett Bay Commission on wastewater plant