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Resident urges performance audit of tax and finance departments; town says funds would be needed
Summary
A longtime resident called on the council to commission a performance audit of the tax department and finance office, saying recurring problems require an independent review; the town administrator said staff would support an audit if the council appropriates funds.
A North Smithfield resident told the Council during public comment that the town should hire an accounting firm to perform a performance audit of the tax department and finance office.
"The only way you're going to be able to tell... is a performance audit," Mike Clifford said, recounting an auditor's presentation at a prior meeting and pressing that a performance audit would identify process and control weaknesses even if it is not a financial statement audit. "I've been begging this council... to have a performance audit done for years," he said, noting recurring issues with abatements and fund balance details.
A councilor asked the town administrator whether the council could explore a performance audit; the Town Administrator said staff would have no objection but emphasized that the council would need to appropriate the money to pay for the audit.
Why it matters: A performance audit would examine processes, controls and efficiency in finance functions and could lead to changes in procedures or internal controls; the council must decide whether to fund such an audit.
Meeting context: The remarks were made during the open public comment portion; the council did not take immediate action but agreed to put the matter on a future agenda if the council chooses to appropriate funds.
