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Auditor gives Van Buren County an unmodified opinion; single immaterial ARPA finding noted
Summary
External auditor Aaron Stevens presented the county's 2023-24 financial audit and issued unmodified opinions on the financial statements and federal-award compliance. The report highlighted a strong general fund balance and one immaterial finding related to ARPA budget coding.
Aaron Stevens, the contracted auditor, told the Van Buren County Board of Commissioners on March 11 that the county's financial statements for the year ending Sept. 30, 2024, received an unmodified opinion.
The audit presentation, introduced by Rebecca Gravel, reviewed the independent auditor's report, governmental fund results and the single-audit compliance work on federal awards. Stevens said an unmodified opinion means the financial statements "present fairly in all material respects," the form of opinion the board wants to see.
The auditors highlighted positive unrestricted net position for governmental and business-type activities and a stronger funded status for the county pension (about 66% at the measurement date). At the fund level the general fund's total fund balance was reported at $13,554,000 as of Sept. 30, 2024, with unassigned fund balance near $10,970,000, representing roughly 34% of annual expenditures and transfers out ' well above the GFOA benchmark cited by the auditor of approximately 17%.
Stevens outlined the single-audit results for federal awards, reporting total federal expenditures of $9,563,000 and that the county's coronavirus state and local fiscal relief program (assistance listing 21.027) was selected as the major program for testing. The firm expressed an unmodified opinion on compliance with major federal program requirements and reported no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies tied to the financial statements.
The auditors did report one immaterial finding related to budgetary noncompliance in the ARPA fund. The finding stemmed from a budget amendment that, on paper, showed a projected deficit because a prior expense coding was overlooked. Stevens and county staff characterized the condition as an oversight that did not produce an actual fund deficit and said it was not material to the audited financial statements.
County staff and commissioners praised the reduction in prior-year audit findings and the timeliness of this year's work; the auditors noted fewer proposed material journal entries, timely bank reconciliations and an on-time submission to the state treasury compared with prior years. Stevens also walked the board through upcoming GASB pronouncements (GASB 101'104) and their expected implementation years.
The presentation closed with staff and commissioners thanking the finance team for improving controls and audit responsiveness; no formal board action was required at the March 11 meeting.
