Cleveland Public Library Recognized by State of Ohio for Focus on Fiscal Responsibility, Receives Auditor of State Award
10/26/2011 3:10:34 PM
CPL Receives Auditor of State Award Recognizing its Excellent Financial Record - A recent financial audit of Cleveland Public Library (CPL) by the office of Dave Yost Auditor of State, has returned a stellar audit report, earning CPL the Auditor of State Award continuing CPL’s focus on fiscal stewardship in the face of difficult financial times for everyone in our community.
“CPL knows the value of the public support we receive, and we always make fiscal responsibility a top priority,” said Felton Thomas, Executive Director of CPL. “During the recent financial troubles, we have made extra efforts to become even more efficient, and we are proud to receive this award on behalf of our generous supporters and taxpayers.”
The Auditor of State Award is presented to local governments and school districts upon the completion of a financial audit and a determination by the Auditor that the entity has met the strict criteria for submitting a “clean” audit report. These criteria include, among others, a requirement that the audit report finds no material weaknesses, significant deficiencies, or questioned costs.
The Auditor of State Award is more proof of the success of CPL’s recent focus on fiscal responsibility in difficult times. CPL cut $8 million in expenses from its budget in 2010 through inventive and aggressive financial restructuring, including eliminating annual increases in salaries, downsizing staff through attrition and retirement, and working with labor to negotiate fair contracts. Despite these cuts, CPL was also able to keep all of its 28 neighborhood branches open to the public, maintain its high quality of materials and programming, and continue to introduce new technology to a public with limited means.