PCWA Financial Audit

AUBURN -- The 2009 annual audit of the Placer County Water Agency has shown that the agency's financial records are being kept in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and accurately express the agency's financial position. The independent audit, completed by Maze and Associates Accountancy Corp. of Pleasant Hill, was presented Thursday (June 3) by the engagement partner Cory Biggs.

The auditor said the PCWA audit resulted in a "clean opinion, which is the best you can get." The firm listed no additional issues or comments, which is commendable and a rare occurrence, said Biggs, who noted that his firm works with some 40 cities and 30 other government agencies. Along with the auditor's presentation, the PCWA Director of Financial Services Joseph Parker presented to the Board the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report is prepared by the PCWA finance staff and will be submitted to the reporting award program of the National Government Finance Officers Association. If received, it will be the fourth consecutive year the Agency has been awarded the certificate for excellence in financial reporting.

PCWA board members congratulated Parker and his staff before voting to receive and file the annual audit reports.

In other business, PCWA directors:

• heard a presentation on the PCWA canal delivery system from Director of Field Services Mike Nichol, who described how water is routed from the mountains to PCWA service areas. Nichol focused on areas where people are on waiting lists to receive irrigation water and said the situations are due mainly to lack of local area infrastructure, not water supply. The water agency is continuing efforts to expand water availability to these areas, Nichol reported.
• discussed a concept of video recording and live Web streaming of PCWA Board of Directors meetings. Staff has been looking into methods and costs of providing the added public service. Directors asked for further studies, including staffing requirements, and costs for copying and distributing video materials. No action was taken.
• learned that the planning process for a new general plan and resource plan for the Auburn State Recreation Area and Auburn Dam Public Lands has been suspended at the request of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which is facing funding shortfalls and considering changes in the way the federal lands are managed.
• welcomed Rick Gruen, who is the new manager of the Placer County Resource Conservation District. Gruen, who arrived here four months ago from Oregon, said he is pleased to be in Placer County and looks forward to continuing the good working relationships between his district and PCWA.

Regular meetings of the PCWA Board of Directors are held at the PCWA Business Center, 144 Ferguson Road, in Auburn. PCWA board meetings are open to the public. Information on PCWA board meetings may be obtained through the Clerk to the Board at (530) 823-4850 or (800) 464-0030.

Source: PCWA