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Board accepts external audit; internal audit finds historic retiree-billing issues corrected
Summary
External auditor issued an unqualified opinion for the year ended June 30, 2025; the board accepted the external and internal audits and approved associated corrective actions addressing retiree health-care billing discrepancies.
The Penfield Central School District Board of Education accepted the district's annual external financial audit and the internal controls audit for the period ending June 30, 2025, at its Oct. 7 meeting.
Thomas Zuber, the district's long-time external auditor from Mengel, Metzger & Barr, told the board the firm issued an "unqualified opinion, no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies" in the fiscal year 2025 financial statements. Zuber highlighted that the district had a positive year-end position and that long-term planning and reserves remain strong.
The internal audit focused on retiree health-care billing. The audit committee reported two undercharges of $50 that were repaid and identified two older cases—one from the 1990s and one from the early 2000s—where retirees had been billed differently than expected by their collective bargaining agreements. The committee said it has identified explanations for those legacy cases and that the business and human resources offices will implement corrective steps by Dec. 1 and report those actions to the state as required.
The board voted to accept the internal control audit and the external financial audit and to approve the associated corrective actions. Motions to accept both audits were moved, seconded and carried with unanimous affirmative votes noted on the record.
Key figures mentioned by the auditor and administration included approximately $10,300,000 allocated into reserves during the year, just over $2,100,000 used from reserves, about $1,500,000 of fund balance appropriated to reduce next year’s tax burden, and approximately $2,400,000 spent from federal stimulus funds. The school lunch program showed an erosion in fund balance that the administration expects to stabilize under new procedures and the projected uptick in reimbursable meals.
Board members on the audit committee praised the business office staff for thoroughness. The board recorded motions accepting both audit reports and the corrective action plan during the meeting.
