$60,000 Dollars Per Year For Lisbon Finance Director And This Is What You Get !!!

 SORRY STATE OF AFFAIRS

                                                    
On September 28, 2012, I asked the town to provide the following information to me under the Freedom of Access Act (FOAA).  “Respectfully request the balance on the Undesignated Fund Account as of July 1, 2012 and the current balance as of September 28, 2012.”  In a computerized world, this should be a very simple request but nothing is simple when dealing with the town.  I received a letter dated October 5, 2012 from the Finance Director, Jessica Maloy with her response.  

 Lisbon Finance Director Jessica Maloy

“I would like to thank you for your request to the Town of Lisbon and taking the time to fill out a Freedom Of Access Form.  This response is in regards to your request on the balance on the Undesignated Fund as of July 1, 2012 and the current balance as of September 28, 2012.  Unfortunately, the Undesignated Fund Balance is calculated and arrived at through our Annual Fiscal Audit.  At this time, we have not completed the audit as of June 30, 2012 which would be closest date to your request of July 1, 2012.  Once we have received our audited financial statements from the auditors, I would be happy to notify you to obtain a copy, with this information included.  Given light of this, a balance as of September 28, 2012 is not readily available and at my disposal to release.  Should this be something which is of great importance to you, I would be more than happy to spend the approximate 80 hours to create unaudited financial statements as of September 28, 2012 at a rate of $15.00 per hour for you.”

In essence, the Finance Director has no clue what the balance of an account is on any given date.  Taxpayers are paying $14,000 per year for TRIO and this system cannot provide current information pertaining to the finances of the town.  Are you kidding me? 
 
It is ludicrous when the Finance Director cannot go into the computer system and know exactly how much money is in an account.  An audit is conducted to ensure financial standards are being properly followed and not to determine account balances. 
 Every year there are minor adjustments to correct deficiencies found but these are simply administrative corrections.  The Finance Director informed the town council several meetings ago that the audit had been completed for 2011-2012. 

How is it possible to collect and pay monies on a daily basis if you cannot post anything until you have the auditor’s financial statement?  How can the Finance Director come before the town council and provide information on the financial status of the town if there is no auditor’s financial statement?  There is definitely something rotten in Lisbon other than the cheese!

 Lisbon Finance Director Jessica Maloy

It is no wonder the town council has to raise our taxes every year.  Between hiding money from the people and the Finance Director not knowing the balance on accounts, this town’s finances are in disarray. 

How much longer are the citizens of Lisbon going to allow this mismanagement and misappropriations to continue? 

Larry Fillmore
Concerned Citizen