Liberty County auditors issue clean opinion; commissioners accept 2023 financial statements

Liberty County’s outside auditor told the Commissioners Court on Tuesday that the county’s fiscal-year 2023 financial statements received an unmodified opinion and reflected a positive overall net position.

"We are issuing an unmodified report," Albert Garcia, CPA of Mays and Associates, told the court while presenting the audit report. He said the county’s net position was about $6.8 million and that general fund balance stood at about $23.2 million.

Garcia reviewed several highlights in the report, including an approximately $800,000 increase in the statement of activities and a general-fund decrease of about $502,000 in the year. He also noted that the statements include new accounting guidance (GASB 96) requiring certain subscription agreements to be reported as both an asset and liability.

"We don't report any material weaknesses," Garcia said, commending county staff for day-to-day financial work. After the presentation, a motion to accept the audit was made, seconded and approved by the court.

The auditor also pointed out fund-level details: the Road and Bridge fund reported a balance of about $1.9 million; capital projects reflected activity related to bond construction; debt service had about $584,000 and nonmajor special revenue funds totaled about $4.9 million. Garcia said the county realized a smaller-than-projected deficit relative to the budget amendment, which had forecasted a $4.3 million deficit but resulted in a $502,000 decrease in fund balance instead.

Commissioners voted to accept the audit report as presented; no additional audit exceptions or material weaknesses were recorded in the public presentation.

The court's formal action followed the auditor's remarks: a motion to accept came from Commissioner Greg (recorded as "Greg" in the minutes), was seconded by Gerald (the new precinct 4 commissioner), and the court voted to approve the audit report.