State Audit Critical of Way West Irondequoit Central School District Manages Reserve Funds IRONDEQUOIT, NY (WXXI) - State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli says an audit reveals the West Irondequoit Central School District needs to better manage its reserve funds. DiNapoli says as of June of last year the district had a reserve balance of $7.2 million. He says over half of that should not have been reserved.

DiNapoli recommends the West Irondequoit district come up with a clear policy for establishing and reviewing reserve accounts.

West Irondequoit School Superintendent Jeffrey Crane says just over half of the $4 million was put in reserve to offset lost sales tax revenue from County Executive Maggie Brooks' FAIR Plan. Under the FAIR Plan, the county executive tried to use sales tax revenues intended for schools to pay for Medicaid costs. The school districts successfully challenged the plan in the state courts.

As Crane points out, the state audit does not accuse the district of doing anything illegal.

Crane says the district has already started an action plan to improve its practices. For example, money that was put into an insurance reserve fund will be moved into an appropriate fund.

Comptroller DiNapoli says his recommendations are offered in the spirit of best and better practices for the district.
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