The Pine Bush Central School District is taking steps to address several financial oversight recommendations identified in its annual independent audit, including concerns about its unassigned fund balance and procedures for documenting financial transactions.

The Board of Education accepted the district's audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, at its Oct. 13 meeting. The audit, conducted by Nugent & Haeussler, gave the district an unmodified opinion, meaning its financial statements fairly present the district's financial position in all material respects.

However, the auditors also made several recommendations for improving the district's financial procedures. A corrective action plan prepared by Assistant Superintendent for Business Brian Weir on Oct. 6 outlines six recommendations and the district's responses.

One of the recommendations concerns the district's unassigned fund balance, which auditors said should not exceed the 4% limitation under New York state law.

According to the corrective action plan, the district reduced its unassigned fund balance by $3,572,775 between June 30, 2025, and June 30, 2026. The district said it plans to use a portion of the remaining balance for one-time expenditures, capital improvements and reserve funding.

Auditors also recommended improvements in the documentation of budget transfers, including maintaining supporting records and evidence of Board of Education approval when required.

Other recommendations involved accounting procedures for the district's Summer Handicap Program, documentation of payments and deposits involving student activity funds, and improved tracking of district capital assets.

In response, the district outlined additional financial review procedures, more thorough documentation requirements and quarterly reporting of capital asset changes. The district identified Oct. 16, 2026, as the implementation date for the planned corrective measures.

The board accepted the audit and the district's response to the auditor's management letter following a recommendation from its Audit Committee.

The full audit report and the district's corrective action plan are available on the district website: