S & S National Waste, Inc./\!\I AMI BEACH
BUDGET AND PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT
Internal Audit Division INTERNAL AUDIT REPORT
To:
Via:
From:
Date:
Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager Q
Kathie G. Brooks, Budget and P~· rf ~n:~..!J.Ce Improvement Director~
James J. Sutter, Internal Auditor ~/!/ ,,
October 6, 2008
Audit:
Period:
S & S National Waste, Inc.
November 20004 to February 2008
This report is the result of a scheduled audit of the Roll-Off Fee Returns for S&S National Waste,
Inc. (S&S).
INTRODUCTION
A roll-off is defined as a container with a minimum capacity of ten cubic yards designed to be
transported by a motorized vehicle. They are typically used for the purpose of removing construction
debris, which include rock, metal and other materials used in connection with a construction project or
for the removal of large quantities of trash and bulky waste.
Approximately thirty companies currently possess business tax receipts to operate roll-offs within the
City's boundaries. In return, they are required to abide by the terms outlined in the City Code. This
includes the remittance of franchise fees equaling 16% of Miami Beach gross receipts to the City's
Finance Department by the end of the subsequent month, filing various reports, maintaining sufficient
insurance, etc.
BACKGROUND
Previously, Internal Audit conducted an audit of S&S for period of January 2001 to September 2004.
Our audit report dated March 14, 2005 produced an audit assessment attributed to the under reporting
of gross receipts. At present, the City Attorney's Office and S&S lawyers have been communicating
regarding this previous audit. Therefore, this matter is still pending.
OVERALL OPINION
S&S has generally complied with the provisions of the City Code's during the audit period. The
following items were noted during our audit:
• Gross receipts in the amount of $18,473.97realting to fuel surcharges and delivery charges
were not reported; therefore S&S owes the City $3,284.73 in roll-off franchise fees (including
interest charges).
• S&S has not filed a list of accounts and the required CPA annual statement of gross receipts.
• S&S has submitted the certificate of liability insurance.
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Internal Audit Report
S&S Waste Removal, Inc. Roll-Off Fees
October 6, 2008
PURPOSE
The purpose of this audit is to determine whether all roll-off waste contractor billings were correct, and
whether all City revenues were correctly calculated, received timely and accurately recorded by the
City, and the contractor was in compliance with designated sections of the City Code and related
Ordinances.
FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND MANAGEMENT RESPONSES
1. Finding -Unreported Gross Receipts
City Code Section 90-221 defines gross receipts as "the entire amount of the fees collected by
the licensee, exclusive of taxes as provided by law, whether wholly or partially collected, within
the city, for solid waste removal and disposal". Therefore, all monies collected by the roll-off
waste contractor from Miami Beach service addresses, including fuel surcharges and delivery
charges, should be included in reported gross receipts. Out of 40 months audited gross
receipts, S&S paid the City of Miami Beach $853,330.97 in franchise fees for $5,333,318.53 in
reported gross receipts. S&S collected an additional $18,473.97 in fuel surcharges and
delivery charges and did not report these amounts in compliance with the City Code. The
contractor was not aware that these fees should have been included in gross receipt reported.
The following table summarizes the total unreported gross receipts by category:
Category 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 TOTAL Nov-Dec Jan-Dec. Jan-Dec. Jan-Dec. Jan-Jun.
Fuel Surcharqes (1) $1,795.68 $7,982.13 0 0 0 $9,777.81
Delivery charqes (2) 511.54 2,684.62 2,850.00 2,200.00 450.00 8,696.16 i
Totals $2,307.22 $10,666.75 $2,850.00 $2,200.00 $450.00 $18,473.97 I
Note (1) Based on our review of all invoices submitted for the two months 11/04 and 12/04, the average fuel
surcharge was 1.34% of the total gross receipts. Therefore, we used this percentage and applied it to the
gross receipts for the period of 01/05 to 06/05 to obtain an estimate.
(2) For delivery charges, there were eight months of detailed data missing. We totaled 26 months of the
available gross receipts to arrive at an amount of $6,650.00. An average was then calculated for the
months of 11/04 to 06/05.
The following table summaries the audited gross receipts as compared to reported gross
receipts with the amount of franchise tax due:
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 TOTAL Nov-Dec. Jan-Dec. Jan-Dec. Jan-Dec. Jan-Jun.
Audited $136,652.41 $1,225,090.31 $1,245,338.79 $2,320,697.00 $424,014.00 $5,351,792.50 Receipts
Less
Reported 134,345.19 1,214,423.56 1,242,488.79 2,318,497.00 423,564.00 5,333,318.53 Receipts
Unreported
Gross 2,307.22 10,666.75 2,850.00 2,200.00 450.00 18,4 73.97
--
Recei12ts -·
Roll-Off Fees
Due (16%) 369.15 1,706.66 456.00 352.00 72.00 2,955.81
Interest Due 92.42 113.12 85.66 35.98 1.73 328.9:~ j
Tax Due $461.57 $1,819.78 $541.66 $387.98 $73.73 $3,284.7!
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Internal Audit Report
S&S Waste Removal, Inc. Roll-Off Fees
October 6, 2008
2.
Recommendation
S&S should report all gross receipts as per the City code. This includes but is not limited to fuel
surcharges and delivery fees. S&S should remit $3,284.73 for taxes due for unreported gross
receipts.
Finding -Required Reporting
S&S did not submit the following documents in accordance with the listed City Code sections
during the audit period:
a. Section 90-278 (3) states "The licensed roll-off waste contractor shall provide the city
manager and the sanitation director with a current list of the names and addresses of
each account, upon initial application and upon application for renewal of its business
license, the frequency of service, the permit number and capacity of each roll-off
container or construction dumpster as per account and the address serviced by each
roll-off container or construction dumpster." S&S has not provided the city manager and
the sanitation director with a current list of names and addresses of each account, upon
the initial application and upon application for renewal of its business license, the
frequency of service, the permit number and capacity of each roll off container or
construction dumpster. However, a list of accounts was provided during the audit.
b. Section 90-278 (4) states "The licensee shall on or before 30 days following the close
of its fiscal year deliver to the finance director and the city manager a statement of its
annual gross receipts generated from accounts within the city certified by an
independent certified public accountant reflecting gross receipts within the city for the
preceding fiscal year". S&S did not provide a statement of its annual gross receipts
generated from accounts within the city certified by an independent public accountant
reflecting gross receipts within the city for the preceding fiscal year.
Recommendation
S&S should comply with the designated sections of the City Codes and submit all gross
receipts, lists of accounts and certified annual statements of gross receipts.
EXIT CONFERENCE
Audit findings were e-mailed on 09/24/08 to Joni Mickelson, Chief Financial Officer for S&S. We
confirmed her agreement to our findings on 09/25/08.
JJS:CD
Audit performed by Carmin Dufour
F:\obpi\$AUD\DOC007-08\REPORTS -AUDIT FINAL REPORT FOR S&S WASTE .doc
cc: Robert Middaugh Jr., Assistant City Manager
Fred Beckmann, Public Works Director
Alberto Zamora, Sanitation Director
Patricia Walker, Chief Financial Officer
Joni Mickelson, Chief Financial Officer for S&S
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