Local governments

We first shared this advice in our Best practices for fueling government-owned vehicles resource. For more tips on how to improve your fueling system controls, check it out! 

If you manage a billing and collection system, then you have an important report to consider – the accounts receivable (A/R) aging report. As auditors, we regularly ask about your review of certain reports and when it comes to accounts receivable, we find a lot of value in this one. In this blog post, we’d like to explain why an A/R aging report is so important and why you should review it.  

We receive straightforward commonsense advice all the time. Keep your eye on the ball – if you play baseball. Cut once, measure twice – when cutting wood or fabric. And there’s the classic “stop, drop and roll” if you ever find yourself on fire. Simple, straightforward advice helps us focus on the most important thing we should do, despite many possibilities. 

To receive payments electronically, most organizations need to share their bank account information with those who owe them money. Banking information includes the bank routing number, which identifies the bank that holds your account, and your account number. However, you don’t have to share your account number when you have a universal payment identification code (UPIC).  

We urge our local government clients to keep in close communication with our Office to achieve cost-effective and timely audits, which is critical to help governments maintain their bond rating.  
 
Rating agencies such as Fitch, Standard & Poor’s (S&P) and Moody’s rely on financial audits as a window into a local government’s financial health, and they require governments to provide a recent audit as part of their process.   
 

We invite you to check out our recently updated procurement resource, the Office of the Washington State Auditor’s Buying and Bidding Guide. From learning the applicable laws and bid thresholds to getting helpful tips, this newly refreshed resource will help you navigate your next procurement process with confidence. To view the guide, click here.  

As the days shorten, the Office of the Washington State Auditor’s Financial Intelligence Tool (FIT) expands, offering users a refreshed set of financial data, new ways to explore statewide revenue and expenditure trends, and a helpful financial health indicator reference guide. Read on to discover these exciting new and upcoming updates. 

Originally published October 2, 2024

Updated October 4, 2024

Fire districts, city police departments and county sheriff’s offices commonly have collective bargaining agreements that allow staff to exchange shifts or have shift fill-ins, as long as the shift exchange does not interfere with operations or incur additional costs.

The Port of Peninsula mismanaged its revenues, resulting in financial disarray, and failed to follow parts of the Open Public Meetings Act, the Office of the Washington State Auditor reported today.