(a) The governing body of each municipality shall cause an annual audit to be made of the accounts and records of all departments, boards, and agencies under its jurisdiction that receive and disburse funds. The audit shall include, but not be limited to, general funds, highway funds, school funds, public utilities and municipal courts.

(b) The comptroller of the treasury, through the department of audit, shall be responsible for ensuring that the audits are prepared in accordance with generally accepted governmental auditing standards and determining whether the audits meet minimum audit standards, which shall be prescribed by the comptroller of the treasury. No audit may be accepted as meeting the requirements of this section until such audit has been approved by the comptroller of the treasury.

(c) The audits may be prepared by certified public accountants, public accountants or by the department of audit. In the event the governing body of the municipality fails or refuses to have the audit prepared, the comptroller of the treasury may appoint a certified public accountant or public accountant or direct the department of audit to prepare the audit, the cost of such audit to be paid by the municipality.

(d) All such audits shall be completed as soon as practicable after the end of the fiscal year of the municipality. One (1) copy of each audit shall be furnished to the mayor, chief executive officer, each member of the governing body, and the comptroller of the treasury. Copies of each audit shall also be made available to the press.

(e) All audits performed by the internal audit staff of the municipality shall be conducted in accordance with the standards established by the comptroller of the treasury pursuant to § 4-3-304(9).