PORT EWEN- A new audit conducted by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli has found that the Port Ewen Fire District failed to properly manage key aspects of its financial operations, leaving taxpayers without assurance that public funds were being tracked, invested, or planned for effectively.
The audit, issued October 3, 2025, reviewed the actions of the District’s Board of Fire Commissioners and examined financial practices from 2019 through 2023. According to state auditors, the board did not ensure that the district treasurer kept adequate accounting records, a basic requirement for financial transparency. Without reliable records, the board “did not have sufficient information to adequately oversee the District’s financial activities and make informed financial decisions,” auditors wrote.
One of the most striking findings involved the district’s investment practices. The audit noted that the board failed to annually review its investment policy or seek competitive investment options. As a result, the District earned just $968 in investment income. Had officials solicited interest rate quotes or explored other legal investment options, auditors estimate the fire district could have earned between $42,000 and $51,000 during the same period.
Budgeting practices were also flagged. The board routinely overestimated annual appropriations by an average of $190,817, or about 35 percent, between 2019 and 2023. Overestimating expenses can tie up money unnecessarily, preventing those funds from being used for equipment, facilities, or tax relief.
The audit further found that the district had no written multiyear financial or capital plan, a key tool for managing long-term needs such as apparatus replacement and infrastructure upgrades.
State officials issued several recommendations including maintaining proper accounting records and developing realistic budgets.
In a formal response to the audit’s findings, fire district officials stated they generally agreed with the findings and have already begun, or plan to begin, implementing corrective actions.