House of Representatives

HB 2369

county audits

Sponsors: Representatives Sedillo, Chase, O'Halleran, et al.

X	Committee on Counties & Municipalities
	Committee on Retirement & Government Operations
	Caucus and COW
	Third Read
	As Passed the House

HB 2369 requires counties to contract with the Auditor General, a certified public accountant or public accountant who is currently licensed by the Arizona State Board of Accountancy and who is not an employee of the county to complete their annual audits, at county expense.

History

A.R.S. § 11-254.01 stipulates that each county shall develop purchasing procedures to comply with the uniform accounting system prescribed by the Auditor General for purchases of ten thousand dollars or less, or for purchases of less than the aggregate dollar amount if the county board of supervisors adopts the amount provided. In addition, current statute gives the Auditor General the responsibility to audit the expenditures related to the County Assessor's Property Information Storage and Retrieval Conversion and Maintenance Fund.

A.R.S. § 11-621 gives the Auditor General the responsibility to prescribe the manner in which warrants drawn upon the County Treasury in amounts not exceeding $500 for the purpose of paying for goods and services costing $500 or less. Also, current statute requires the Auditor General to conduct or cause to be conducted annual financial audits of financial transactions and accounts kept by or for all counties.

Summary of the proposed strike-everything amendment to HB 2369:

Provisions

· Allows counties to develop purchasing procedures to comply with either the uniform accounting system prescribed by the Auditor General or a system prescribed by the county board of supervisors.

· Permits for either an independent audit, or at the request of the County Assessor, the Auditor General to audit the expenditures related to the County Assessor's Property Information Storage and Retrieval Conversion and Maintenance Fund.

· Allows the county, through either an independent auditor, or the Auditor General at the request of the County Assessor to prescribe the manner in which warrants drawn upon the County Treasury in amounts not exceeding $500 for the purpose of paying for goods and services costing $500 or less.

· Gives the county board of supervisors of each county authority to contract a certified public accountant or public accountant who is currently licensed by the Arizona State Board of Accountancy and who is not an employee of the county to complete their annual audits, at county expense.

· Specifies which county accounts and funds must be included in the audit and audit report.

· Stipulates that audits shall be made in accordance with generally accepted standards and shall contain financial statements that conform to generally accepted county accounting principles.

· States that audits shall be completed and the final audit report shall be submitted within six months after the close of the fiscal year or years audited.

· Specifies that at least 3 copies of the audit report must be signed by the auditor and filed with the county and stipulates that the county shall make the audit report open to the public.

· Stipulates that the Auditor General shall only conduct or cause to be conducted annual financial audits for a county, upon the request of the county.

· Makes other technical and conforming changes.

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· 45th Legislature

· Second Regular Session 2 February 5, 2002

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