OSA Weekly Update - 4/25/2025
1. Message from Auditor Blaha
2. TIF: Authorization for TIF Consultants to Access SAFES
3. Released: Minnesota County Summary Budgets Report
4. Avoiding Pitfall: School Cash Handling Procedures
5. Job Openings
1. Message from Auditor Blaha
Private Sector Auditors - tell us what you think: We are getting a good response to the survey but more responses will give us a fuller picture. The survey focuses on the availability of government auditing services and ways we can support the private accounting sector when they do public finance work.
The results will be shared with members of the Audit and Reporting Group (AaRG), legislators, local leaders, and the wider public to continue AaRG’s mission of supporting local governments struggling with the national shortage of public finance staff.
Click here to begin the survey. If you have any questions or concerns, contact Nadine Kottom-Dale at nadine.kottom-dale@osa.state.mn.us or 612-391-7000.
2. TIF: Authorization for TIF Consultants to Access SAFES
TIF Annual Reporting Forms for reporting 2025 activity will be made available in early May. In preparation, remember that all consultants and non-authority employees who need to access SAFES on behalf of a TIF authority must annually file an authorization form with the OSA. The authorization form for 2025 is available at SAFES and may be submitted by e-mail, fax, or US mail.
This authorization form is not required for employees of TIF authorities or counties. Send contact changes or requests for employee access to TIF@osa.state.mn.us along with contact information (title, primary email, phone number, and mailing address).
3. Released: Minnesota County Summary Budgets Report
The OSA released the annual Minnesota County Budgets Report: 2025 County Summary Budget Data together with 2024 Summary Budget Data.
The data reflects unaudited budgeted revenues and expenditures reported by counties to the OSA as required by Minn. Stat. § 6.745, subd. 2.
The complete report is available on the OSA website. You can also read the press release here.
4. Avoiding Pitfall: School Cash Handling Procedures
Schools should periodically review internal control procedures that will help protect school funds. This is critically important for anyone who may be handling cash.
The Minnesota Department of Education publishes the Manual for Activity Fund Accounting (MAFA), which contains numerous internal control procedures that should be followed whenever a school handles cash. Advisors who will be handling student activity funds must acknowledge in writing receipt of a copy of MAFA and their responsibility for assuring that MAFA procedures are followed.
MAFA can be found in Chapter 14 of the Department of Education's Uniform Financial Accounting and Reporting Standards (UFARS) Manual. To download Chapter 14 from the Department of Education’s website, click here:
The full Avoiding Pitfall is available on the OSA website.
5. Job Openings
Local Government Auditor
The OSA is hiring Local Government Auditors for our Mankato and Moorhead Offices. These entry-level positions assist with financial and compliance audits of local governments in Minnesota.
The job posting will close on May 5, 2025.
Local Government Auditor, Senior
The OSA is hiring Local Government, Senior for our St. Paul and Moorhead. Offices. These Senior positions play a lead role in the planning and completion of individual audits; are self-directed with the completion of complex audit sections and financial reporting; and provide day-to-day guidance and coaching to entry-level auditors.
The job posting will close on May 5, 2025.
Local Government Auditor
The OSA is hiring Local Government Auditors for our St. Paul. This entry-level positions assist with financial and compliance audits of local governments in Minnesota.
The job posting will close on May 7, 2025.