REPORT DIGEST

 

OFFICE OF THE TREASURER – CHANGE OVER AUDIT

Financial Audits and Agreed-Upon Procedures

For the Period: July 1, 2010 through opening

     of business January 10, 2011

 

Release Date: June 9, 2011

 

State of Illinois, Office of the Auditor General

WILLIAM G. HOLLAND, AUDITOR GENERAL

 

To obtain a copy of the Report contact:

Office of the Auditor General, Iles Park Plaza, 740 E. Ash Street, Springfield, IL 62703

(217)    782-6046 or TTY (888) 261-2887

 

This Report Digest and Full Report are also available on the worldwide web at www.auditor.illinois.gov

­­­­­­­­­­­____________________________

 

INTRODUCTION

 

The Illinois State Auditing Act (30 ILCS 5/3-2.1) requires the Office of the Auditor General to “conduct a change over audit of the State Treasurer’s accounts at the conclusion of each term of office of the State Treasurer or, in the case of successive terms by a State Treasurer, at the conclusion of that State Treasurer’s time in office.”

 

This digest presents our financial audits for the Office of the Treasurer Fiscal Officer Responsibilities, Illinois Funds, and College Savings Program for the period July 1, 2010 through opening of business January 10, 2011.

 

In addition, Agreed-Upon Procedures covering insurance, fixed assets, unclaimed property, locally held funds, and unexpended appropriations were performed for the period July 1, 2010 through opening of business January 10, 2011.

 

OTHER DISCLOSURES

 

FISCAL OFFICER RESPONSIBILITIES

 

FINDINGS

 

During the financial audit testing of the Office of the Treasurer (Office) - Fiscal Officer Responsibilities the auditors were required to follow-up on previously reported findings that affected the financial operations.  Two findings that had been reported in the June 30, 2010 Fiscal Officer Responsibilities report are being repeated in the Change Over Audit of the Fiscal Officer Responsibilities.  A summary of the two findings are as follows:

 

• The Office did not document the reason for gaps in the sequential numbering of general ledger journal entries processed during the audit period.  Strong management controls, due diligence and fiduciary responsibility require procedures to include proper checks and balances and adequate supervision to ensure safeguarding of assets and proper financial reporting.  The Office’s personnel attributed the gaps to the design of the application. (Finding #1, page 48)

 

The auditors recommended the Office improve its internal control over general ledger journal entries and ensure documentation is maintained for the entire population of journal entries.  The Treasurer’s Office agreed with the recommendation and indicated the Office is working towards making changes in the system to resolve the problem.     

 

• During testing of the Office’s securities lending program, auditors noted the Office did not comply with the Deposit of State Moneys Act and the Illinois State Treasurer’s Investment Policy.  Failure to comply with mandated responsibilities in noncompliance with statutory requirements and does not fulfill the legislative intent of the statute.  (Finding #2, pages 49-50)

 

The auditors recommended the Office strengthen its internal controls over the securities lending program.  The Treasurer’s Office agreed with the recommendation and noted the Office has either implemented or will be implementing changes to address the issues identified.

 

ILLINOIS INSURED MORTGAGE PILOT PROGRAM TRUST     

 

The Illinois Insured Mortgage Pilot Program Trust (Trust) was created in October 1982 in order to stimulate construction activity in the State.  The State purchased $120,000,000 of investment certificates for which the underlying collateral was a pool of mortgage loans for the purpose of providing financing to approved construction projects.  Two mortgage agreements in the pool were secured by hotel properties, the Collinsville Holiday Inn (Collinsville Hotel) and the Abraham Lincoln Hotel and Conference Center (formerly the Renaissance). 

 

Through the result of defaulting on the loan and subsequent foreclosure, the Trust purchased the Collinsville Hotel and all associated property for $25,375,654.  The sale price was paid in full through the Trust’s credit of the sale price against the unpaid principal and interest secured by the mortgage on the property.  On November 1, 2007 the court issued a judicial deed, and the Trust took title to the property. At a sealed bid auction, the Trust sold the Collinsville Hotel property to a hotel developer for $5.25 million.  The sale closed on August 26, 2008.  The Trust subsequently received approximately $600,000 from an outstanding operating account of the Collinsville Hotel.  In May 2010, the Trust settled litigation against a financial institution related to the collection on four letters of credit totaling $1,637,375, that were additional loan collateral.  After the financial institution transferred $853,874 and the deeds and/or titles to several properties, the litigation was dismissed. It is anticipated the properties will be sold for an amount less than $1 million.

 

 Again, through the result of defaulting on the loan and subsequent foreclosure, the Trust, on March 4, 2008, purchased the President Lincoln Hotel and all associated property for $100,000.  The sale price was paid in full through the Trust’s credit of the sale price against the unpaid principal and interest of the mortgage note.  The court confirmed the sale on March 14, 2008.  The President Lincoln Hotel was sold via public auction on December 14, 2009 to the high bidder for $6.5 million.  The transaction closed on February 2010, with the purchaser transferring the sale price to the Trust accounts.

 

The Trust transferred $16 million to the State Treasury on September 30, 2010.

 

THE ILLINOIS FUNDS

 

The Illinois Funds was established under the name Illinois Public Treasurers’ Investment Pool (IPTIP) in 1976 to supplement and enhance the investment opportunities available to custodians of public agency funds throughout the State of Illinois.  The management, custodianship and operation of The Illinois Funds are under the supervision of the Office of the Treasurer – State of Illinois.

 

 To administer the Illinois Funds, the Treasurer has established a division entitled “The Illinois Funds Administrative Office”.  The revenues and expenditures of the Division were recorded in a fund maintained by the Treasurer entitled “The Illinois Funds Administrative Trust Fund”.

 

An investment trust fund is used to account for assets held by The Illinois Funds in a trustee capacity for public treasurers throughout the State of Illinois.  The custodian for this fund was U.S. Bank of Illinois.    

 

COLLEGE SAVINGS PROGRAM

 

The College Savings Program (Program) was established in March 2000 pursuant to P.A. 91-0607 which authorizes the State Treasurer to establish and administer a “qualified state tuition program” under Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  Participants of the Program have a choice of two Section 529 investment programs, the Bright Start College Savings Program, which commenced operations on March 27, 2000, and the Bright Directions College Savings Program, which commenced operations on November 18, 2005. 

 

The State Treasurer selected an investment firm (Manager), one for Bright Start and one for Bright Directions, to advise the office on the investment of the Trust assets, to administer the Trust assets, and to provide other services relating to the Program.  As such, the Managers act as agents of the Treasurer, and as trustees of the Trust.  The Treasurer, however, retains ultimate authority to manage the investments of the Trust.

 

To administer the Program, the Treasurer has established a division entitled “The College Savings Program Division”.  The revenues and expenditures of the Division are recorded in a fund maintained by the Treasurer entitled College Savings Program Administrative Trust Fund, which is classified as an enterprise fund. 

 

An investment trust fund was used to account for assets held by the Program in a trustee capacity or as agent for individuals throughout the United States. 

 

AUDITORS’ OPINIONS

 

The auditors stated the State Treasurer’s financial statements as of the beginning of business on January 10, 2011 are fairly presented in all material respect.

 

 

WILLIAM G. HOLLAND

Auditor General           

 

WGH:RPU:pp

 

SPECIAL ASSISTANT AUDITORS

 

Crowe Horwath LLP were our Special Assistant Auditors for this engagement.