(A) The city shall, after the close of each fiscal year, cause each fund of the city to be audited by the auditor of public accounts or a certified public accountant. The audits shall be completed by February l immediately following the fiscal year being audited. The city shall forward an electronic copy of the audit report to the Department of Local Government for information purposes no later than March 1 immediately following the fiscal year being audited.
(B) The city shall enter into a written contract with the selected auditor. The contract shall set forth all terms and conditions of the agreement which shall include, but not be limited to, requirements that:
(1) The auditor shall be employed to examine the basic financial statements which shall include the government-wide and fund financial statements;
(2) The auditor shall include in the annual city audit report an examination of local government economic assistance funds granted to the city under KRS 42.450 to 42.495. The auditor shall include a certification with the annual audit report that the funds were expended for the purpose intended.
(3) All audit information be prepared in accordance with generally accepted governmental auditing standards which includes such tests of the accounting records and such auditing procedures as considered necessary under the circumstances. Where the audit is to cover the use of state or federal funds, appropriate state or federal guidelines shall be utilized;
(4) The auditor prepare a typewritten or printed report embodying:
(a) The basic financial statements and accompanying supplemental and required supplemental information;
(b) The auditor's opinion on the basic financial statements or reasons why an opinion cannot be expressed; and
(c) Findings required to be reported as a result of the audit.
(5) The completed audit and all accompanying documentation shall be presented to Council at a regular or special meeting.
(6) Any contract with a certified public accountant for an audit shall require the accountant to forward a copy of the audit report and management letters to the Auditor of Public Accounts upon request of the city or the Auditor of Public Accounts, and the Auditor of Public Accounts shall have the right to review the certified public accountant's workpapers upon request.
(C) A copy of an audit report which meets the requirements of this section shall be considered satisfactory and final in meeting any official request to the city for financial data, except for statutory or judicial requirements, or requirements of the Legislative Research Commission necessary to carry out the purposes of KRS 6.955 to 6.975.
(D) Each city shall, within 30 days after the presentation of an audit to the city legislative body, publish an advertisement, in accordance with KRS Chapter 424, containing:
(1) The auditor's opinion letter;
(2) The “Budgetary Comparison Schedules-Major Funds,” which shall include the general fund and all major funds;
(3) A statement that a copy of the complete audit report, including financial statements and supplemental information, is on file at city hall and is available for public inspection during normal business hours;
(4) A statement that any citizen may obtain from city hall a copy of the complete audit report, including financial statements and supplemental information, for his personal use;
(5) A statement which notifies citizens requesting a personal copy of the city audit report that they will be charged for duplication costs at a rate that shall not exceed twenty five cents ($0.25) per page; and
(6) A statement that copies of the financial statement prepared in accordance with KRS 424.220 are available to the public at no cost at the business address of the officer responsible for preparation of the statement.
(E) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00). In addition, any officer who fails to comply with any of the provisions of this section shall, for each failure, be subject to a forfeiture of not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00), in the discretion of the court, which may be recovered only once, in a civil action brought by any resident of the city. The costs of all proceedings, including a reasonable fee for the attorney of the resident bringing the action, shall be assessed against the unsuccessful party.
(F) In lieu of the auditing requirements set forth in KRS 91A.040, if the city for the fiscal year in question receives and expends, from all sources, and for all purposes, less than seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000.00), and has no long term debt, whether general obligation or revenue debt, the city may comply fully with the provision of KRS 424.220 in lieu of the requirements listed in divisions (A) through (H) above.
(KRS 91A.040)
(G) If the city determines that the cost of newspaper publication exceeds the cost of postage, supplies, and reproduction, the city may substitute delivery of a copy of the advertisement by first class mail to each residence within the publication area, in lieu of the newspaper publication required by this section.
(KRS 424.190(2))
Statutory reference:
Department for Local Government to provide assistance, see KRS 91A.050.