City audit clean, but computer policy to be reviewed

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The city of Woodbury received a clean bill of financial health in its most recent audit, but will review a policy after getting flagged for selling used computers to employees.

An independent auditor reviewed the city’s financial books from 2009 and issued a “clean opinion” with no significant deficiencies, an audit commissioner reported last week.

The auditor did tag the city for selling old computers to city employees without first offering them in a public sale, as is required under state law. Used computers were sold for $50, generating around $5,000. The computers ranged from 4 years old to 8 years old.

City finance officials acknowledged the practice did not meet state statute, but intended to make the sale transparent by including it on a 2009 City Council agenda. The computers could have been donated, but the city determined it could recover some value from some of the computers by selling them, said Bob James, the city’s information technology director. Also, employees who bought the computers would have access to their work e-mail from home.

James said the city is reviewing its policy about disposing city property to make sure it complies with state law and makes “smart business decisions with asset disposals.”

-Scott Wente

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