Report advises changing Port Clinton accounting

4/13/2005

PORT CLINTON - The Ohio Auditor's Office has recommended a series of changes in how Port Clinton's parks and recreation department handles money after finding that some activity funds were not deposited with the city.

According to an audit report issued yesterday, former parks and recreation director Ken Gipe repaid $131 last month after the state issued a finding for recovery. A work sheet from an open gym session March 14, 2003, indicated $131 was collected from participants, but state auditors found no evidence that the city received the money.

The audit recommended a fee schedule be approved by the city's parks and recreation committee and all funds received by the department be deposited and accounted for promptly.

The state also urged that receipts be made out with the date, individual, amount, type of revenue, and event. Another recommendation called for adopting a city policy on the collection and depositing of funds.

The report also found that because of a calculation error, a retired water and sewer department employee was overpaid $188.47 in vacation pay when he left the city in February, 2003. The employee, Elmer Bradshaw, repaid the money in March, 2004, the state said.