Carrollton officials say city finished fiscal 2024 in strong position while flagging sales-tax, pension and utility risks

Diana Vaughn, a city finance presenter, told the Carrollton City Council at its March 4 work session that the city's annual comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2024, shows a generally positive picture: unrestricted net position rose for both governmental and business-type activities and liquidity remains strong, though not as high as the previous year.

Council members were given a primer on how the ACFR differs from the budget and why rating agencies, bond counsel and taxpayers use it to evaluate state of the city finances. Vaughn and Finance Director Melissa Everett walked the council through multiyear trends, pension funding, retiree health liabilities (OPEB), debt metrics and major revenue drivers.

The officials said the city received an unmodified (clean) audit opinion and that continuing disclosures for the city's outstanding bonds are in order. Vaughn noted the city’s current ratio figures and long-term trend tables but cautioned that certain one-time federal funds that boosted recent years are no longer…