OSA Weekly Update - 11/6/2026 (1)

1. Message from Auditor Blaha

2. Deadline: Fire Relief Association Reporting Information

3. 2026 Local Government Training

4. Avoiding Pitfall: Examine Bank Statements Promptly to Preserve Potential Claims

1. Message from Auditor Blaha

Congratulations! Minnesotans have spoken, and they’ve elected Zack Filipovich to serve as Minnesota’s 20th State Auditor. Auditor-elect Filipovich is a certified management accountant currently working as a finance manager for a non-profit. He lives with his wife Emily in Duluth where he’s a former City Council President.

I’ve known Auditor-elect Filipovich for over a decade and know him to be dedicated, effective and kind. I believe the Office of the State Auditor (OSA) is in good hands and am excited to give him a good start. Over the next two months, my administration will work to ensure a smooth transition to our new State Auditor.

Please join me in welcoming Auditor-elect Filipovich!

2. Deadline: Fire Relief Association Reporting Information

Minnesota law requires forfeiture of fire state aid for relief associations that do not submit all required reporting information to the OSA on or before November 30. If 2025 reporting forms are not fully received in our office on or before that date, the relief association’s 2026 state aid will be automatically forfeited, and the relief association will be ineligible for future state aid until the reporting forms are received. The OSA does not have authority to grant filing extensions beyond the deadline.

Visit our Reporting Compliance Dashboard to view the status of relief association report submissions and see a relief association's status in meeting its requirements with the OSA to qualify for fire state aid.

If you have questions regarding reporting requirements or need access to online reporting forms, please contact the Pension Division at (651) 282-6110 or pension@osa.state.mn.us.

3. 2026 Local Government Training

Information is available for the local government finances training on December 17, 2026, from 1 – 4:05 p.m. Please see the conference webpage for more information. Here are the highlights:

  • GASB Statement Number 103, Financial Reporting Model Improvements

  • Legal Compliance Update

  • Capital Asset Guide

  • The Regulatory Basis of Accounting

  • Fraud and Internal Controls

4. Avoiding Pitfall: Examine Bank Statements Promptly to Preserve Potential Claims

Under Minnesota law, it is important that local governments preserve their legal rights against banks regarding unauthorized payments made from local government accounts.

Once a bank sends an account statement to a customer, the customer has a duty to “exercise reasonable promptness” in examining the statement for unauthorized payments. Minn. Stat. § 336.4-406. The term “bank” includes savings banks, credit unions, and other entities “engaged in the business of banking.”  If the statement shows an unauthorized payment, it is the customer’s duty to “promptly notify the bank.” A customer that fails to fulfill this duty “is precluded from asserting” claims against the bank.

The number of days that constitute “reasonable promptness” is often stated in the depository agreement with the bank. In some cases, it may be less than 30 days. For example, the Minnesota Supreme Court denied recovery to an account holder whose bank paid $22,000 on forged checks. The account holder did not notify the bank within the 20-day notification period provided in the agreement with the bank. See Stowell v. Cloquet Co-Op Credit Union, 557 N.W.2d 567 (Minn. 1997).

To preserve possible legal claims, know the deadline in your bank. Review bank statements as soon as they arrive. Report any unauthorized transactions to the bank without delay.

The full avoiding pitfall is available on the OSA website.