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Auditors give Dallas an unmodified opinion; council approves December financial report
Summary
Independent auditors delivered an unmodified opinion on the city’s fiscal 2023–24 financial statements and the council approved the December 2024 financial report unanimously.
The city’s external auditors told the Dallas City Council on Jan. 25 that the financial statements for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, received an unmodified opinion and that several fund balances increased compared with the prior year.
Brad Bingenheimer, partner with accounting firm Singer Lewac, presented highlights from the 120-page audit and said, "In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly in all material respects, the financial position results of operations of the city of Dallas for the year ended 06/30/2024." He noted increases in net position for government activities and business-type activities and described fund balances for the general fund, street fund and system development fund.
Bingenheimer also discussed the city's net pension liability arising from participation in Oregon PERS, reporting a net pension liability of $12.6 million (measured as of June 30, 2023) and noting that overall PERS-funded status and actuarial changes affect the city's statements. He told the council that auditors did not identify internal control deficiencies that required reporting but flagged a small number of budget-document errors and two minor over-expenditures for compliance attention.
Councilor Larry asked about a line-item variance in professional services for facilities, and staff explained the variance reflected timing of projects and remaining budget. Finance Director Cecilia Ward clarified that wildfire conflagration reimbursement ("conflagration" money) is recorded under other state revenues and that reimbursements are typically 6–9 months behind actual activity.
The council later voted to approve the December 2024 financial report; the motion passed unanimously.
Why it matters: The unmodified audit opinion affirms that the city's financial statements are presented fairly under generally accepted accounting principles. The pension liability and timing of reimbursed wildfire costs are ongoing fiscal items the council discussed.
