Best Practices Worksheet CY 2014/SFY2015

Jackson Township (Ocean)

1511 Please see Color Key at bottom of sheet for limits on answers

Answer Question Comments

11 Prospective Many municipalities have created one or more authorities (including fire districts, utilities authorities, redevelopment authorities, housing authorities, port authorities, etc.) to provide greater focus and attention on addressing a public need, or to reduce governing body burdens. While creation of such an authority is often appropriate, and many authorities successfully and efficiently fulfil their missions, authorities with weak membership or insufficient local-level monitoring can become wasteful, inefficient and unresponsive to the public they serve. N.J.S.A. 40A:5A-20 allows a local governing body to dissolve an authority subject to certain parameters and with Local Finance Board approval. Municipalities should at least annually assess the authority or authorities they created and publicly discuss their findings and conclusions. Findings and conclusions should address whether the authority’s continued existence is appropriate, and whether the authority is appropriately and efficiently serving its residents. Does the governing body meet at least once annually to discuss an assessment of the authority or authorities they have created?

Finance & Audit - FA

12 Yes Internal accounting control processes, procedures and authorizations are designed to safeguard assets and to limit the risk of loss or misstatement. 1) Are internal accounting control processes, procedures and authorizations documented and communicated to staff; and 2) Does your Administrator/Manager or CFO, as appropriate, evaluate and discuss risk assessment annually with your governing body or an appropriate subcommittee thereof (such as the Audit or Finance Committee) with a focus on developing and updating accounting control processes, procedures and authorizations? If you selected "yes", please state in the Comment section in the approximate date of the discussion and whether the discussion was with the governing body or, if with a subcommittee thereof, name the subcommittee. Discussion was with the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee during the budget process. Approximate date March 4th, 2014.