Cave Creek Unified board accepts 2023–24 audit, auditors report clean opinion

The Cave Creek Unified School District governing board on March 18 voted to accept the district's 2023'24 annual comprehensive financial report, single audit report and Uniform System of Financial Records (USFR) compliance questionnaire following an external audit that returned an unmodified (clean) opinion.

The acceptance came after Jill Shaw, engagement partner for auditing firm Heinfeld, Meech & Co., presented the audit results and described the district as a "low risk auditee." Shaw said, "I'm happy to report that this year, we issued an unmodified opinion on those financial statements which is also known as a clean opinion which means that we did not find any material errors in the underlying general ledger and so that's great news." The board approved acceptance by roll call vote.

Shaw told the board the audit was performed in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, Government Auditing Standards and the Uniform Guidance required when an entity spends more than $750,000 in federal awards. She said the single-audit procedures this year focused on ESSER funds, and the auditors found no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies. Shaw noted there was one immaterial audit adjustment related to the health-care portion of the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) withholding and that immaterial items are disclosed in the communication to governance.

Shaw gave timing details the board had requested: the auditors' annual comprehensive financial report was issued Dec. 9, the single audit report followed "a couple weeks later," and the USFR compliance questionnaire was filed with the Auditor General on Feb. 6. She also reported the district met several filing and disclosure deadlines, including continuing bond disclosure and certificates filed with professional organizations (ASBO and GFOA) where applicable. Shaw said the district had no disagreements with management during the audit and no significant audit adjustments.

At the meeting Dr. Pletnick introduced Shaw and then moved that the governing board accept the single audit, annual comprehensive financial report and USFR compliance questionnaire for the 2023'24 school year "by roll call vote as presented." The motion carried by voice/roll call: Member Moore voted yes; Member Walker voted yes; Member Fortney voted yes; the board president recorded a yes, for a tally of 4 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain.

The board's formal acceptance places the audited reports into the board record; Shaw noted state statute requires governing boards to accept the audit report. The presentation also highlighted that the district qualifies as a low-risk auditee under federal rules, which affects future audit procedures and testing scope.

Board members did not request additional follow-up actions at the meeting. The district will retain the auditors' communication to governance, and management has accepted responsibility for the financial statements and the filing obligations described in the presentation.