Cape May County Scores Well in Annual Audit

COURT HOUSE — For the third consecutive year, Cape May County government has received a favorable audit report with no comments and no recommendations. The annual audit, conducted by Ford-Scott & Associates, LLC, auditor of record for Cape May County, encompassed the 2015 calendar year, and clearly the outcome is very good news for county taxpayers.
The annual audit results were announced at the July 12, Freeholder meeting. Francine Springer, Chief Financial Officer, reported the 2015 audit was completed before the June 30 deadline, and the audit was “clean”, with no comments or recommendations cited. The annual audit includes tests and reviews of all departments and compliance of state and federal financial practices.
Freeholder Director Gerald M. Thornton commended Springer, her staff, the county administration and department heads for their work. He emphasized the importance of a clean audit in maintaining the county’s excellent Aa1 bond rating from Moody’s, which will result in low interest rates when the county borrows funds for needed projects.
“Each year we face many challenges that test the County’s financial plan. In 2015, we moved Social Services under county government which came with some costs. Unfunded state mandates, emergencies, especially those resulting from weather related events, and most recently the implementation of new public safety and security programs, had the potential to impact our ability to control spending and remain within the budget guidelines. The audit results are a testament that the internal controls currently in place are working,” Thornton said.
Thornton cited some key factors that contributed to three years with a clean audit, including regularly scheduled Core Meetings with the administration and key department heads that bring to light potential issues which can be addressed and resolved before they become costly problems.
“Continuous management improvements at all levels are another contributing factor that play into the quality of services and the efficient operation of County government. Vigilant oversight by the Freeholder Board, Clerk of the Board, Director of Operations and Treasurer’s Office, along with ongoing employee training, remains a critical component that impacts positively on all functions of county government, and is evident in the results of the audit. An audit report with no comments and no recommendations is the best you can get, and delivers on our promise to our taxpayers of providing good sound government,” Thornton added.