Oak Grove auditors issue clean opinion; no findings reported

Brian Eckoff of Westbrook and Company presented Oak Grove's annual audit to the Board of Alderwomen on July 21 and delivered a clean (unmodified) opinion on the city's financial statements. The auditors reported no journal entries, no disagreements with management, and no internal control findings.

Eckoff walked the board through the principal financial highlights on the statements. He reported total net position of about $9.2 million split between governmental activities (about $5.4 million) and business-type activities (about $3.8 million for water and wastewater). He said governmental fund revenues were about $8.4 million against expenditures of about $8.7 million, producing a roughly $300,000 decrease in fund balance overall and a small decrease in the general fund. For water and wastewater, operating revenues were approximately $4.3 million and the change in fund balance was an increase of about $377,000 combined, split roughly evenly between water and wastewater.

Eckoff noted the audit showed regular debt amortization with no balloon payments and that the budget pages contained no findings or comments. The auditors also reported on internal control matters and said they used the control environment for risk assessment; their report contained no findings. City staff present included Rebecca Smith, identified in meeting remarks as the finance manager; Mayor Dana Webb and board members thanked staff for the work that produced the clean report.

The board discussed no formal motions tied to the audit presentation; the auditors' presentation concluded with board thanks and recognition of staff. No follow-up corrective actions were recommended in the auditor's report as read at the meeting.