Youngstown cited over flaws in budget, operations

By DAVID SKOLNICK

skolnick@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

The city ended 2008 with deficits in 16 funds, spent more than it budgeted in one fund and still doesn’t have a written code of conduct, according to a state audit.

But for the second consecutive year, the audit doesn’t include a finding for financial recovery.

“Overall, the finance department and the city administration are pleased with the audit,” said Kyle Miasek, deputy finance director. “We welcome recommendations from the state. We’re always looking for their feedback.”

Some of the citations and recommendations in the 2008 audit have been in annual audits of the city for several years.

Among those are the lack of a written code of conduct, no credit card policy for the city administration [city council and the municipal court have policies], no cell phone use policy for city council and the clerk of courts, and no long-range information technology strategic plan.

The city has a conflict-of-interest policy, but does not require any of its officials or employees to acknowledge they have read and understand it.

Overall, the audit includes two noncompliance citations and 18 recommendations.

The 2007 audit had four noncompliance citations and 20 recommendations.

The city also had 16 funds that exceeded its budgetary amounts.

The worst was the Division Street pavement project, budgeted at $400,000. The city actually spent $1,487,777 on the project.

Also, the business development fund spent $821,205 more than the amount certified by the Mahoning County budget commission.