By JANICE PODSADA
Herald Writer
MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — The city of Mountlake Terrace has been late three years in a row in filing its annual financial report, the state auditor’s office says.
State law requires the city to file its annual report within 150 days after the close of each fiscal year, which is Dec. 31.
"The city has not filed its annual financial reports for calendar years 1997, 1998 and 1999 in a timely manner," the state auditor’s office wrote.
Auditors also said that last year’s report was full of mistakes.
"The city’s 1999 annual financial report was not submitted until after the statutory deadline and contained significant errors requiring modifications and revisions," the state report says.
Washington State Auditor Brian Sonntag recently announced the results of the city’s audit for the period Jan. 1, 1999 to Dec. 31, 1999.
The delay in filing an annual financial report is an inconvenience to the public, and state and federal agencies interested in using the information, Sonntag wrote.
City administrative service director Jerome Trojan said Monday changes in the city’s staff in the last three years caused the reports to be late and fraught with errors.
"The work just wasn’t completed on time, so the submission on that date just wasn’t thorough," Trojan said.
Trojan said he was hired by the city in May 1999 to correct the problem.
Mountlake Terrace officials told the state auditor’s office they are taking steps to make sure this year’s financial report will come out on time.
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