Politics & Government

Township Receives Clean Audit, an 'Unusual' Occurrence

No corrective action required in 2012 audit, according to officials

A recent audit of Toms River’s finances found no need for corrective action, which officials said this week is an uncommon occurrence for any municipality.

The audit, which scrutinized the township’s operations through 2012, was conducted by Holman and Fernia and completed in the last week of June. In his many years preparing budgets in Toms River and elsewhere, Business Administrator Paul Shives said he has never seen an audit return without a recommended correction plan.

“This is my 35th budget in 35 years. I have never had no comment or recommendation,” Shives said during a Township Council meeting this week.

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Had any corrective action been required, notice about the findings would have been given prior to the Aug. 12 meeting and a resolution acknowledging that members of the governing body had read the report would have been on the placed on the agenda, according to officials.

“So there were no findings that required corrective action?” council President George Wittmann asked Clerk Mark Mutter.

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“That is correct,” Mutter said in reply. “The audit determined that no action need be taken.”

Wittmann said it is “unusual” for that to happen and told Shives that he and his team did a “great job” managing the township's finances. 

“I’d like to congratulate you on your stewardship there, because it’s not normal to have no comment,” Wittmann said to Shives.


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