Auditing the Library's Finances
If the library has more than $500,000 in revenues the Department of Administration wants an auditor to check the library's accounting and reporting to ensure that everything is being handled correctly. Follow the links to the "Audit Review Section" on the Local Government Bureau's website for a list of recommended auditors (you need to use one of the recommended auditors) as well as a checklist and other forms that may assist you in this process. If you have an interlocal agreement with the city or county where the local government body is handling your accounting then you will be expected to provide some of the materials they need for their annual audit.
ASPeN: The New Library Directory
- Home
- Introduction
- Challenges of being a library district
- Joys of being a library district
- Contact Us
- Getting Started - Helpful Hints
- Develop an Action Plan
- Work/Life Balance
- Celebrate Your Successes
- Getting Started Checklist
- Working with the city and county during the transition
- County Actions
- City Actions
- Memorandums of Agreement
- Independent or with County
- City/County Transitions Checklist
- Paperwork, paperwork, paperwork!
- Employer Identification Number
- Name Change
- Notify Department of Administration
- Create List of Contacts
- Paperwork Checklist
- Accounting and other money matters
- Funding during the transition phase
- Decide how to handle accounting
- Paperwork and other details
- Transfer of cash and other liquid assets
- Develop agreements with the Friends and Foundation
- Funding for the First Year
- Accounting Checklist
- Payroll and Personnel
- Initial Decisions
- Take a class
- Notify Revenue Departments - State and Federal
- Personnel
- A note about independent contractors
- Payroll
- Payroll and Personnel Checklist
- Property and other assets
- Transfer Assets
- Obtain Insurance
- Maintenance, Repair, and Utility Costs
- Depreciation of Assets
- Assets Checklist
- The Library Board and its Duties
- Create and adopt an action plan
- Support library staff
- Adopt bylaws for the board
- Hire legal counsel
- Purchase errors and omissions insurance
- Begin work on a long range plan
- Begin adopting policies
- Adopt resolutions and a budget
- Election of board members
- Board Checklist
- Public relations and library services
- Keep the public informed
- Design a new logo and look
- Plan for new services
- Public Relations Checklist
- Reporting Requirements
- IRS Reporting
- Department of Administration Reporting
- Auditing the Library's Accountings
- Depreciate Assets
- Montana Department of Revenue Reporting
- Montana Department of Labor and Industry Reporting
- Montana Public Employees Retirement Administration
- Create an annual report for the library
- Montana State Library Reporting
- Reporting Checklist
- Conclusion
- Appendices