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Onorato wants a look at Light of Life's audit
Friday, July 20, 2001 By Tom Barnes, Post-Gazette Staff Writer
Allegheny County Controller Dan Onorato wants to review a recent audit of Light of Life Ministries, a North Side-based rescue mission for homeless people.
Onorato said he was distressed to learn about accusations of sloppy financial practices at Light of Life contained in a joint investigation by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and KDKA-TV.
In an interview yesterday, Onorato said he was especially concerned about a statement made in a recent audit by Light of Life's outside accountants, Maher Duessel, that said Light of Life's "general ledger system was not maintained on a comprehensive basis through the [1999-2000 fiscal] year. ... Without proper internal control, Light of Life cannot ensure that all revenue that is received/earned is recorded, [that] all revenue that is earned is billed and that assets are safeguarded from misappropriation."
The county receives $455 million a year in federal and state money for programs relating to the courts, environment, health, senior citizens, police, economic development, social services, mental health and mental retardation, and many other programs, he said.
Hundreds of independent agencies provide the services, and all are required to have an outside audit done annually. Onorato said he had begun collecting those audits to review them and added that Light of Life's would be at the top of his pile.
"We will go in with an objective view to see exactly what is happening," he said.
Of the $455 million in government funds, Onorato said, more than $300 million goes for social-service programs. That includes money for housing, psychiatric care, food, job-training and other services for the homeless -- some of which are provided by Light of Life.
Currently, he said, the county has two contracts with Light of Life: a three-year contract totaling $220,799 that goes to provide housing and support services for homeless people, and a one-year, $113,184 contract for services to "low-income males over 18 who have a history of psychiatric hospitalizations."
Onorato said he wanted to make sure the state and federal money the county received was being used properly.
"We can test Light of Life's internal controls to see if the federal and state money is being protected," he said. The agency has received $2.7 million in government funds during the last five years.
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