Strong Financial Controls Pay Dividends For Taxpayers
Hunterdon County Commissioner Director John E. Lanza announced, that at the upcoming County Commissioner meeting scheduled for August 2nd, Hunterdon County CFO Janet Previte will be able to report that the 2021 Independent Audit is certified as ‘clean’ for a record seventh consecutive year.
Commissioner Director Lanza, liaison to the Finance Department, noted, “Each year when the independent auditing firm releases its findings on county finances, it’s an affirmation that the financial and accounting best practices--put in place by this Board in consultation with the CFO--are working. These are not empty words. Rather, it is a fact, proven by the report clean audit by an independent party for the seventh straight year.
Through continued hard work, determination, and strong fiscal oversight, the county has made itself a model of government finance.”
Commissioner Shaun C. Van Doren, a member of the Budget Committee added, “Careful control over where the taxpayers’ dollars are spent is a vital component of the strategy that has helped this Board establish a freeze in the tax rate for the last four years, continue the conversative fiscal policy of ‘pay as you go’ and keep Hunterdon County debt free.”
The independent audit of county finances for 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 have regularly found no material findings and no issues of non-compliance, and that county financial records have been maintained in accordance with accounting principles, according to the audit document submitted by the Wiss accounting firm.
Deputy Director Zach Rich said, “I am proud of the strong fiscal control and oversight policies that are shared by this Board. Our taxpayers expect and deserve to know that government will use their tax dollars wisely. Every dollar that government takes from its citizens is less money that is available for individuals and their families to meet their bottom line.
As a father of three, I understand the daily financial challenges that Hunterdon County families are facing from inflationary pressures not seen in nearly four decades. Record gas prices, higher food costs, and increased costs of everyday essentials are placing a tremendous burden on people across this country.
The financial record and conservative fiscal philosophy of this Board is a demonstration of our ongoing commitment to Hunterdon County’s taxpayers bottom-line.”
The Commissioners extended their congratulations to County CFO Janet Previte, and all the Department Heads and others involved in the finance, payroll, purchasing, and budgeting process for the clean audit accomplishment for the seventh year.