Audit finds cash controls, billing and fee problems at Springfield parks; committee moves to executive session on security

A city performance audit of Springfield's Parks and Recreation Division identified multiple internal-control weaknesses, inconsistent billing practices and out-of-date fees, and the audit committee voted May 22 to enter executive session to discuss security deployment related to audit findings.

The audit presentation was led by Director Young Ngo of the Office of Internal Audit, who said the audit scope covered fiscal year 2024 and part of fiscal year 2025 through November 2024. "We have over 50 parks with with over 2,500 acres," Ngo said while introducing the division's size and organizational structure.

The audit team highlighted several findings:

- Cash-handling segregation: The report found employees in recreation, aquatics, toll booths and banquet facilities who both handle cash and record transactions. Ngo told the committee, "When you have record keeping and handling cash, you as I as I mentioned, you could also use and steal the assets." The audit recommended segregating duties so cash handling and record-keeping are not performed by the same individual.

- Disparate accounting systems and unreconciled receipts: The audit noted that some parks functions use separate systems (QuickBooks at banquet facilities; Word-generated invoices at toll booths) rather than the city's centralized Munis accounting system required by city ordinance. Ngo said information in…