A Performance Audit
A Summary of Financial and Performance Reports Submitted by Regional Planning Commissions
October 2017
Summary Analysis
All 24 regional planning commissions (RPCs) in Texas submitted all statutorily required financial, asset disposal, productivity, performance, and salary reports to the State Auditor’s Office. According to their most recent audited annual financial reports and audited comprehensive annual financial reports for fiscal year 2016, the 24 RPCs that submitted those reports received $862,678,624 in revenues.
The 24 RPCs’ audited annual financial reports and audited comprehensive annual financial reports contained all the elements required by Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 391. However, 3 (13 percent) of the 23 RPCs that were statutorily required to submit a salary schedule to the State Auditor’s Office submitted a final approved salary schedule after the due date. One RPC was not statutorily required to submit a salary schedule to the State Auditor’s Office. In addition, 6 (26 percent) of the 23 RPCs that were statutorily required to submit a salary schedule submitted salary schedules with positions for which salaries exceeded maximum salaries authorized by statute. However, after auditors contacted the RPCs about the errors, all six RPCs submitted revised salary schedules with positions for which salaries were less than or equal to maximum salaries authorized by statute.
External certified public accountants (CPAs) issued unmodified opinions on the financial statements for all 24 RPCs. Three (13 percent) of the 24 RPCs’ financial statements identified an emphasis-of-matter paragraph, a material weakness, or a significant deficiency.
The information the RPCs submitted to the State Auditor’s Office indicated that the RPCs have multiple programs and functions. According to the RPCs’ audited annual financial reports and audited comprehensive annual financial reports, some of the programs on which the RPCs spent the largest amounts of funds included workforce programs, transportation, and aging services.
The information in this report covers RPC reports that the State Auditor’s Office obtained between September 1, 2016, and August 31, 2017, unless otherwise indicated in the RPC chapter.
• Chapter 1 – Summary of Information from Reports That Regional Planning Commissions Submitted
• Chapter 1-A – Alamo Area Council of Governments
• Chapter 1-B – Ark-Tex Council of Governments
• Chapter 1-C – Brazos Valley Council of Governments
• Chapter 1-D – Capital Area Council of Governments
• Chapter 1-E – Central Texas Council of Governments
• Chapter 1-F - Coastal Bend Council of Governments
• Chapter 1-G - Concho Valley Council of Governments
• Chapter 1-H – Deep East Texas Council of Governments
• Chapter 1-I – East Texas Council of Governments
• Chapter 1-J - Golden Crescent Regional Planning Commission
• Chapter 1-K – Heart of Texas Council of Governments
• Chapter 1-L – Houston-Galveston Area Council
• Chapter 1-M – Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council
• Chapter 1-N - Middle Rio Grande Development Council
• Chapter 1-O - Nortex Regional Planning Commission
• Chapter 1-P – North Central Texas Council of Governments
• Chapter 1-Q – Panhandle Regional Planning Commission
• Chapter 1-R - Permian Basin Regional Planning Commission
• Chapter 1-S - Rio Grande Council of Governments
• Chapter 1-T – South East Texas Regional Planning Commission
• Chapter 1-U – South Plains Association of Governments
• Chapter 1-V – South Texas Development Council
• Chapter 1-W – Texoma Council of Governments
• Chapter 1-X – West Central Texas Council of Governments
• Appendix 1 – Objectives, Scope, and Methodology
• Appendix 2 – Map of Regional Planning Commission Regions
• Appendix 3 – Financial and Population Information Regarding Regional Planning Commissions
• Appendix 4 – Related State Auditor’s Office Work