Comptroller Weitzman helps prepare social services agencies with questionnaire

Comptroller Weitzman helps prepare County’s social services agencies for new oversight requirement in 2009

Agencies must complete questionnaire outlining their policies and procedures

Starting in 2009, social services agencies and other not-for-profit organizations that collectively receive millions of dollars in County contracts will be asked to complete a 14-page questionnaire outlining their financial policies and procedures, according to Nassau County Comptroller Howard Weitzman. The questionnaire asks all social services agencies contracting with the County to disclose the existence of their written rules and policies and take responsibility for what goes on under their roof. In addition, the questionnaire must be “signed off” by the Executive Director and Board Chairperson of each agency. Currently the questionnaire is voluntary; however in 2009 it will become mandatory for the agencies that contract with the County.

“Nassau is fortunate to have dozens of agencies that provide important services for children, seniors, and those challenged by physical and mental health problems,” Comptroller Weitzman said. “I believe the institution of this new questionnaire, with the cooperation of the not-for-profit community, will help assure the County and its taxpayers that the agencies receiving public funding are acting as good stewards of those funds.”

Among the new reporting requirements, agencies will now be required to attest:

whether they have an external accounting/auditing firm that performs a yearly audit of financial statements;

whether auditors or regulatory authorities have found deficiencies in internal controls, violations of contracts or grant agreements;

whether they know about any frauds or embezzlement in their organizations, and whether they have reported such potentially illegal acts to law enforcement authorities and/or insurance companies;

whether they have written policies and procedures for daily operations and financial management; including accounting, personnel, fraud reporting, and quality assurance;

whether they monitor compliance with their own policies and procedures;

whether they have adopted a code of ethics and a conflict of interest policy and whether any known violations of the policy have occurred in the last three years;

whether the agency’s Board members receive compensation, health benefits, and other fringe benefits.

The questionnaire is also available on the Comptroller’s website at http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/Comptroller/index.html and can be filled in and emailed to Comptrollerfieldaudit@nassaucountyny.gov