Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County auditor presents clean audit; general fund shows $1.45 million decrease for 2024
Summary
The county's auditor reported an unmodified (clean) opinion for the 2024 fiscal year. The general fund had revenues of $20.59 million and expenditures of $21.51 million, producing a $1.45 million decrease in fund balance; ARPA balances are largely spent.
Jim Wells County’s auditor presented the county’s comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR) for the year ended Dec. 31, 2024, to the commissioners court on Aug. 11 and reported a clean audit opinion.
“For the record, the auditor’s opinion is unmodified, and that translates into a a clean opinion,” Raul Hernandez told the court as he began his summary.
Hernandez reviewed major figures on the governmental funds statement. He said the general fund recorded total revenues of $20,588,110 and total expenditures of $21,509,545, meaning expenditures exceeded revenues by $921,435. After transfers out of $533,243, the general fund decreased by $1,454,678, falling from a beginning fund balance of $12,271,581 to an ending fund balance of $10,816,903.
Hernandez noted the county’s ARPA balance is nearly exhausted, with a remaining fund balance of $397,335, and other governmental funds combined ended with $11,016,181. Total fund balances across governmental funds were reported at $22,230,419.
Under full-accrual presentation, Hernandez said the government-wide statements showed a net position increase; the county’s net position rose from about $43.4 million to $43,929,746, with an unrestricted portion of $8,891,158. He also cited long-term debt and pension liabilities reported in the CAFR.
Hernandez said the county underwent a federal single audit and state single audit because it spent more than $750,000 in federal or state funds; he reported there were no audit findings in those compliance audits.
Why it matters: the clean audit affirms that the county’s financial statements are presented fairly, but the general fund decrease and dwindling pandemic-related funds mean the county will need to exercise fiscal caution in its 2026 budget process.
What’s next: Hernandez advised prudence moving forward because COVID-era grants and ARPA funds are no longer a reliable source of revenue; the court will consider these results as it proceeds through the 2026 budget hearings and workshops.
