Independent auditors gave Tompkins County an "unmodified" (clean) opinion on its 2024 financial statements and reported no findings in audits of county-wide financial controls and selected federal and state programs, the auditors told the County Legislature on Aug. 19.

The auditors from Ancero (presented by Dwayne Shown and Conrad White) and county finance staff reviewed revenue and spending trends, federal program testing and state Department of Transportation grants, and identified no repeat findings from 2023. The legislature voted unanimously to accept the audited financial reports for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2024.

The auditors noted revenue and expense movements in 2024: governmental revenues rose about $20 million to roughly $258 million while expenses rose roughly $30 million to about $269 million, producing a current-year loss reported in the financial statements. The county's general fund cash and total assets fell (cash from about $128 million to $109 million), and the unassigned general fund balance remained about $44 million. Auditors and finance staff said some of the changes reflected the spend-down of COVID-related and pass-through funds, and reported the county has established reserves, including a $2.7 million tax stabilization reserve and an increased capital reserve.

Darryl Tuttle, director of finance, told the legislature the county spent roughly $42.5 million in federal funds in 2024 and about $16 million in New York State DOT funding; auditors said they tested selected federal programs and DOT funds and found no compliance findings.

The audit team also flagged long-term, actuarially determined liabilities that contribute to a reported unrestricted net position deficit under GASB standards (notably GASB 68 and GASB 75). Auditors said those liabilities are recognized in state and national accounting standards and do not reflect control issues in the county's current-year budget execution.

The audit presentation and the vote to accept it occurred during the legislature's regularly scheduled meeting; the auditors and county finance staff answered members' questions before the unanimous vote to accept the reports.

The audit packet and the auditors' communications remain in draft pending a few final correspondence items, the auditors said; the legislature adopted the reports subject to any final technical communications.

The legislature also voted, separately, to extend the county's temporary sales and occupancy tax authority (related resolution H) through Nov. 30, 2027.