District Celebrates 16th Consecutive Year of Clean Audits

Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District audit has no findings for 2020-2021

Bellingham, Washington (January 26, 2023) – Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District was notified today that it earned a clean audit from the Washington State Auditor’s office for the fiscal years 2020 and 2021. The Office of the Washington State Auditor examined accounts payable, theft-sensitive assets, and open public meetings records for the period from January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2021. These areas represent the highest risk of fraud, loss, abuse, or noncompliance.

Audits performed by the State Auditor’s Office aim to hold state and local governments accountable for the use of public resources and look at financial information and compliance with state, federal, and local laws. The purpose of the audit was to report on the District’s accountability over the use of public funds, financial statements, and internal controls.

The Office of the Washington State Auditor informed the District’s Board of Commissioners and management today that there were no findings or reportable recommendations. The Auditor’s opinion supports the District’s fair presentation of cash and investments in its financial reporting.

District Finance Manager Jenny Signs noted that staff’s commitment to following District policy and State law played a large part in the findings. “District staff take the responsibility of compliance with regulations seriously, and work hard to meet their duty to the community in the course of handling public funds,” she said. “The knowledge and integrity our employees show on a daily basis provide the foundation for continued positive audit results.”

The 2020-21 audit results mark sixteen consecutive years with no findings during the audit process.