By JIM BUTLER

Pineville has instituted policies that provide review of all its manually calculated utilities bills before they are issued.

In the city’s recent report, for the year ending last June 30, auditors noted lack of such review caused a substantial refund to be made during the audit year.

An account was overbooked for an extended period because, according to the report, a clerk did not have a clear understanding of the process, which caused a continuing miscalculation.

Responding, the city told auditors the clerk has been replaced and the review system initiated.

Even with the “substantial” refund to the account unnamed by the report the utility fund charges revenues of $10.7 million exceeded expenses by $2.3 million.

The General Fund took in $26.8 million ($16 million in sales tax revenue) and spent $20.7 million.

The audit notes the city’s net position is primarily invested in capital assets less outstanding debt.

That and recognizing long-term liabilities associated with retirement benefits and post-retirement health care benefits eliminates the remaining net position, the report notes.

Net position reflects the difference between value of assets and value of liabilities. Incorporating the estimated long-term costs grows the value of the latter, in this instance creating a negative net position even though the General Fund balance grew by $2.2 million over a year earlier to $11.1 million.