To the Editor: 07.17.2025

Town Times

449 Main Street

Watertown, CT 06795

To the Editor,

On June 30, 2025, the town’s financial audit was finally completed and submitted to the State of Connecticut: six months late and one business day prior to the start of the new fiscal year.  While the official audit report is available on the town’s website, 48 pages of the auditor’s notes and opinions are not.  These auditor comments identify the deficiencies found during the audit and make recommendations for their correction.  The auditor identified two instances of “Material Weaknesses in Internal Control of Financial Reporting,” both of which were repeat findings of the previous year’s audit. In addition,there were two other non-compliancesinvolving the failure to submit a required state report in one case, and the filing of another report after the required deadline.  The auditor’s comments, along with consultant Clifton, Larson and Allen’s (CLA)report in 2024,indicate the immediate need for policy and procedural improvements in the town’s Finance Department.The best way to accomplish the needed improvements is by means of a formal corrective action plan, identifying every deficiency noted in the recent auditor comments and last year’s CLA report, and providing positive and permanent corrective actions for each and every one.The Town Council has exhibited no curiosity in the lateness of the audit over the last six months, nor the fact that this is the third year in a row that the audit has been submitted late.  Theauditor’s comments and the CLA Report indicate the need for stepped up oversight by the Town Council of the town’s financial operations. Failure to do so will only serve to perpetuate poor financial reporting practices.

Sincerely,

Richard Rozanski

35 Reynolds St, Watertown, CT 06795 Phone: 203 -217-8424 email: rrozansk@gmail.com