State audits Forestville's water fund

FORESTVILLE, N.Y. (WIVB) - New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli released an audit Thursday on the Village of Forestville’s water fund. The audit claims the town in Chautauqua County authorized improvements to the water system without properly establishing policies for billing and collection of water charges.

According to DiNapoli’s audit,  the village board authorized substantial improvements to the water system and obtained funding from the state Environmental Facilities Corporation without identifying a plan to pay for the debt.

The audit says it appears the village will have sufficient resources to pay its first debt payment due in 2013-2014. The audit says the rate increases appear inadequate to finance the payments in the future.

DiNapoli’s audit said the board did not establish policies for billing and water charges. The audit claims the clerk-treasurer has no oversight and allegedly did not include all unpaid water bills and fees on the tax roll for 2012-2013.