A Financial Review of The State Commission on Judicial Conduct Page: 3 of 12
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Chapter 1
Do the Commission's Reporting Processes Allow It to Provide
Legislative Budget Committees and Commission Management With
Accurate and Reliable Financial Information?
The State Commission on Judicial Conduct's (Commission) reported financial
information has been reasonably accurate. To ensure continued accuracy, the
Commission should strengthen its financial controls by routinely reconciling its
financial records and performing timely physical inventories of its fixed assets.
The Commission uses the Uniform Statewide Accounting System (USAS) as its
accounting system of record. The Commission does not issue standard interim
financial reports internally or to the Commissioners but monitors its expenditures
against its budget by using a financial control spreadsheet.
Our review of the financial and performance reports found the following:
- With minor exceptions, the Commission's legislative appropriations requests
(LAR) have reasonably stated past financial and performance information.
Future caseloads and expenditure projections have been reasonably accurate, and
the operating budget is consistent with the LAR. Data presented in the LAR was
consistent with USAS and the Commission's Case Management System.
- With minor exceptions, the Commission's Annual Financial Report (AFR) fairly
reflects the Commission's financial activity. The expenditures detailed in the
AFR could be reconciled within reason to USAS records. However, the
Commission understated the value of its fixed assets for fiscal year 2001. The
amount of $102,034 reported as the value of "Furniture and Fixtures" was
understated by a net amount of $18,285 (or 15 percent) because the Commission
did not complete an annual inventory of its property and reconcile it to the state
property report. The equity account of "Investments in General Fixed Assets"
was understated by an equal amount.
. With noted exceptions, the internal spreadsheet used by management to monitor
budget activity was reasonably accurate. Exceptions included a net $5,700
understatement of expenses because the Commission had not formally reconciled
the financial control spreadsheet with USAS records.
Recommendations
The Commission should:
- Develop and enforce procedures to routinely reconcile its financial control
spreadsheet with USAS.
- Conduct annual inventories and ensure that fixed assets are accurately recorded.
Attachment
A Financial Review of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct
SAO Report No. 03-002
September 2002
Page 1
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Texas. Office of the State Auditor. A Financial Review of The State Commission on Judicial Conduct, report, September 2002; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth518484/m1/3/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.