The Berrien County Board of Commissioners has received the latest audit report for the county’s six senior centers.
Speaking to commissioners this week, CPA Linda Ely said since commissioners required a standardization of the auditing for the centers, much progress has been made. She said all of the centers have now implemented standardized practices, work regularly with her, and have placed an emphasis on internal controls. That’s resulted in some positive results.
“All of the centers received a clean audit opinion, which is often referred to as unqualified or unmodified,” Ely said.
That’s the opinion a government entity wants when being audited.
Ely said five of the six senior centers have hired outside bookkeeping firms to manage the finances. The only one that hasn’t is the center in St. Joseph, where she said the bookkeeper is the director, who has the help of two retired accountants on the board. Board Chair Mac Elliott wondered if it would be better for the St. Joe center to hire a bookkeeper and asked Ely if that’s her recommendation. She stopped short of recommending that, but Commissioner Mamie Yarbrough said that’s what she’d like.
“Having one accounting firm was to bring all people to a standard, and I would like to see that there is the standard of that happening,” Yarbrough said.
Apart from that, there were only a few minor findings in any of the audits.
Commissioner Jon Hinkelman thanked Ely for “fine tuning” the financial controls at the senior centers. She’s been their auditor for nine years now.
