16-4-121. Required annual audits; conduct; expenses; commencement and completion; additional requirements for school audits.

(a) The governing body of each municipality shall cause to be made an annual audit of the financial affairs and transactions of all funds and activities of the municipality for each fiscal year. At the option of the governing body, audits may be made at more frequent intervals.

(b) The governing body shall make available all documents and records required to perform the audit upon request by the independent auditor.

(c) The audits shall be conducted by independent auditors in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards as promulgated by the AICPA in their guidelines for audits of state and local government units. The audit procedures shall be performed in accordance with "Government Auditing Standards", issued by the comptroller general of the United States. Any audit performed shall comply with the requirements of W.S. 9-1-507.

(d) The expenses of audits required by this act shall be paid by the municipality for which the audit is made.

(e) The first audit shall commence with the fiscal year ending June 30, 1982 and thereafter at the end of each fiscal year. Except for school audits which shall be completed by November 15 following the end of the audited fiscal year, the audits shall be completed not more than six (6) months after the end of the fiscal year being audited. If within seven (7) months after the end of the fiscal year, a copy of an audit report has not been received by the director of the state department of audit, inquiry shall be made by the director. If the municipality has failed to have an annual audit commenced, the director shall make written demand on the governing body to commence the annual audit within thirty (30) days. If the annual audit report of a municipality is not filed with the director within nine (9) months after the end of the fiscal year, the director shall contract with an independent auditor to conduct the audit and shall reimburse the independent auditor from sufficient state revenues and grants withheld from the municipality when certified by the director to the state treasurer, to pay the expenses of the audit. If there are no state funds which may be withheld, the director shall require the municipality to pay the audit expenses from any funds available and certify the amount to be collected to the attorney general for appropriate legal proceedings.

(f) County memorial hospitals and hospital districts shall have an annual audit conducted by an independent certified public accountant in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards applicable to the district or entity. The audit expense shall be included in the operating budget of the district or entity.

(g) Each year an audit shall be made in accordance with the requirements of subsection (c) of this section and a report filed for the immediately succeeding fiscal year as necessary to determine foundation program guarantees and account expenditures by school districts.