At the May meeting, President Bickford announced that a member had challenged our custom of not approving the treasurer's report. Subsequently, that month's report was voted on and approved.
In researching this issue, there is found to be strong consensus among parliamentarians and parliamentarian groups that the treasurer's report should NOT be approved by the organization.
For an organization our size, it is appropriate that an informational report be given at each meeting, It can be questioned, but not voted on for adoption or approval. At the end of our fiscal year (on or about September 1), a committee examines the books and determines if they are correct. At the September meeting, their findings are presented to the membership who may then vote to "accept the report."
The following three articles elaborate on this topic:
A typical meeting
agenda includes a report from the treasurer. As a professional
registered parliamentarian
with Michigan
State University Extension,
I often notice that many groups place the treasurer’s report just after the
approval of the minutes on their agendas. Logically, this makes sense as it is
important to know the status of a group’s finances before discussing other
matters. Following the treasurer’s report, however, I often observe that the
presiding officer asks the group for a motion to approve or accept the
treasurer’s report.
This is an ill-advised custom and a common mistake that
groups make. Unfortunately, only groups who have been through litigation having
had to take a member to court over financial misfeasance or embezzlement
understand the importance of not approving financial reports whose accuracy the
board cannot fully substantiate. Allow me to explain:
The treasurer’s
responsibilities within an organization vary, but the treasurer is generally
the officer entrusted with the custody of its funds. According to Roberts
Rules of Order, Newly Revised 11th Edition, “The specific duties of the
treasurer will vary depending on the size and complexity of the society; but
this officer cannot disburse funds except by authority of the society or as the
bylaws prescribe. The treasurer is required to make a full financial report
annually or as the bylaws may prescribe, and to make such interim reports as
the assembly or the executive board may direct.”
Following a regular report of the treasurer, the
presiding officer may ask the members if there are any questions about the report.
Once questions are complete, the chair should state that the report be placed
on file for audit (if the group has
an audit committee or sends their financials to a professional auditor) or for
review (if the group has an internal committee review the finances for example)
or simple move on to the
next item of business. The report should be filed with the secretary. There is no required action
needed. Instead, it is
the auditor’s report (or review committee’s report) or Treasurer’s annual
report (which has been audited) that is adopted by the group. The audit
report may come before the group based on the organization’s rules. It is
advised that an audit of some form be done annually or, at a minimum any time
there is a change in officers. The specifics should be described within the
group’s governing documents.
The treasurer is an
office in which a group places a great deal of trust and therefore it seems
that an assembly would believe their reports are accurate. However, without an
audit or third party review of the statements, activity, receipts and process
there is no way to ensure reports are correct as presented. So unless an
organization’s by-laws specify adopting your treasurer’s report, it is not
recommended. I know of no federal, state, local or parliamentary rule that states the treasurer’s
report is to be adopted.
This is one in a
series of articles on parliamentary procedure and how to conduct more effective
organizational meetings. For a complete list in this series go to the Parliamentary Procedure resource.
This article was
published by Michigan State University
Extension. For more
information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To have a digest of information
delivered straight to your email inbox, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your
area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI
(888-678-3464).
From the California State Association of Parliamentarians roberts-rules.com :
"Reports
of Officers, Boards, Standing Committees. (This includes correspondence, treasurer's report,
etc. Treasurer's report is
never adopted or voted upon unless it has been audited. )"
From rulesonline.com:
54. Adoption or Acceptance of Reports. When the report of a
committee has been received, that is, has been presented to the assembly and
either read or handed to the chair or the secretary, the next business in order
is the disposal of the report, the proper disposition depending upon its
nature.
(1)
If the report contains only a statement of fact or opinion for the information
of the assembly, the reporting member makes no motion for its disposal, as
there is no necessity for action on the report. But if
any action is taken, the proper motion, which should be made by some one else,
is to "accept the report," which has the effect of endorsing the
statement and making the assembly assume responsibility for it.
If
it is a financial report, as in case of a board of trustees or a treasurer, it
should be referred to an auditing committee, as the vote to accept the report
does not endorse the accuracy of the figures, for the assembly can only be sure
of that by having the report audited. Whenever such a
financial report is made, the chair, without any motion, should say it is
referred to the auditing committee or auditors, if there are any. If there are
none, then the proper motion is to refer it to an auditing committee to be
appointed by the chair. When
the auditing committee reports, this report should be accepted, or adopted,
which carries with it the endorsement of the financial report.
62. Treasurer. The duties of this officer vary in different
societies. In probably the majority of cases he acts as a banker, merely
holding the funds deposited with him and paying them out on the order of the
society signed by the president and the secretary. He is always required to
make an annual report, and in many societies he also makes a quarterly report
which may be in the form given below. If the society has auditors the report should be handed
to them, with the vouchers, in time to be audited before the meeting. The
auditors having certified to its correctness, submit their report, and the
chair puts the question on adopting it, which has the effect of approving the
treasurer's report, and relieving him from responsibility in case of
loss of vouchers, except in case of fraud. If there are no auditors the report when made should be
referred to an auditing committee, who should report on it later.
It should always be remembered that
the financial report is made for the information of members. The details of
dates and separate payments for the same object are a hindrance to its being
understood, and are useless, as it is the duty of the auditing committee to
examine into details and see if the report is correct. The best form for these
financial reports depends upon the kind of society, and is best determined by
examining those made in similar societies. The following brief report is in a
form adapted to many societies where the financial work is a very subordinate
part of their work:
REPORT OF THE TREASURER OF THE M. L.
SOCIETY
FOR THE QUARTER ENDING MARCH 31,
1914.
Receipts.
Balance on hand January 1,
1914.... $
25.75
Initiation fees
................... $ 50.00
Members' dues
..................... 150.00
Fines
.............................
10.50 210.50
Total ........................
$236.25
Disbursements.
Rent of
Hall.........................$ 80.00
Electric lights
..................... 22.00
Stationery and
Printing.............. 15.00
Repair of
Furniture.................. 10.00
Janitor
.............................
60.00 $187.00
Balance on hand March 31, 1914..... 49.25
Total............................ 236.25
S........ M........,
Treasurer
Examined and found correct.
R........ V........ }
J........ L........ } Auditing Committee.
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