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Gage County receives 2023-24 audit with unmodified opinion; auditors flag reconciliation and control issues
Summary
Auditors from GBE gave Gage County an unmodified (clean) opinion for fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, while identifying three recurring audit points including delayed reconciliations in the sheriff’s office and segregation of duties concerns; the Board voted to receive the audit and place it on file.
GBE auditors presented Gage County’s fiscal-year 2023–24 audit and issued an unmodified opinion, the cleanest audit opinion, at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Feb. 5.
The audit matters matter because the report covers the county’s fiscal position through June 30, 2024, and the county uses the audit for federal reporting and oversight of ARPA and other grant spending.
Martin Shultz of GBE told the board the audit produced “an unmodified opinion, which is the cleanest opinion we can give you.” He said the audit disclosed three points that the county should address: (1) the financial reporting process (the auditors prepare the financials and the county accepts responsibility), (2) segregation of duties in several county offices because small staffing allows one person to handle transactions start-to-finish, and (3) reconciling sheriff’s-office fees to the treasurer’s records in a more timely manner. Shultz said the last point relates to prior-year findings and that GBE will advise the sheriff’s office on improved reconciliation procedures.
Shultz also praised the clerk’s office for organizing records and documentation for the audit, singling out Kim in Don’s office for assembling expense testing items for the county and federal audits.
The board moved to receive the 2023–24 audit report and place it on file; the motion, moved by Supervisor Dorn and seconded by Supervisor Jurgens, passed unanimously, 7–0.
The auditors recommended presenting future audits earlier in the year (Shultz suggested late October, preferably no later than November) so county officials can use the financial statements in a more timely way for budgeting and oversight. The report and the federal single-audit materials will be submitted to federal authorities as required.
The board did not adopt any new policies at the meeting; the action recorded was receipt of the audit for the official file.
