Jones County auditors deliver clean opinion; commissioners approve FY 2024 budget amendment

Jones County commissioners on March 18 received a presentation of the county—s FY 2024 audit, which the independent auditor said carried a clean (unmodified) opinion, and approved a post-closing amendment to the FY 2024 budget to reconcile actual expenditures.

The audit presentation, led by David Erwin of Malden Jenkins, reported an unmodified opinion on both the financial statements and the single audit covering federal expenditures. Erwin told commissioners the county had about $4.8 million in federal expenditures in FY 2024 and that the auditors found no reportable internal-control deficiencies. "We are issuing a clean or unmodified opinion on this year's report," Erwin said.

The audit matters why: a clean opinion and no findings indicate the county—s statements were fairly presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and that auditor testing of federally funded programs found no reportable problems. Erwin highlighted that the county ended the year with about $108 million in assets and an ending net position increase of roughly $7.2 million, and that the general fund retained an $18 million fund balance (about 6.5 months of operating expenditures).

At the meeting—s opening business, county staff described a routine but required follow-up to the closed fiscal year: a motion to amend the FY 2024 budget so the adopted budget aligns with actual expenditures after year-end closing. A county staff member explained that governmental accounting practice requires reconciling the budget after a fiscal year closes. The commission moved and passed the amendment by voice vote: "Motion to amend the budget, chairman, as in other years to reconcile with FY '24" was made and seconded; the board approved the amendment with an "aye" vote.

Commissioners and staff used the audit presentation to discuss drivers of revenue growth in FY 2024. Erwin said the revenue increase (from about $33 million to $39.4 million) was driven by a combination of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and higher tax receipts, including stronger sales-tax revenue. He also summarized the water and sewer enterprise fund: operating revenues were about $3.1 million and operating expenses about $3.3 million, producing a small operating loss offset by capital contributions and transfers, which left the fund with a net position increase for the year.

Commissioners praised county finance staff for the repeated clean audits. One commissioner singled out LaVita for proactive work throughout the year; Erwin earlier thanked county staff for cooperation in finalizing the audit.

Votes at a glance: the FY 2024 budget amendment motion was made, seconded and approved by voice vote.

Looking ahead, commissioners were reminded the management—s discussion and analysis (MD&A) in the audit package summarizes year-to-year changes and that the MDA begins near page 5 of the printed financial statements. The auditor encouraged commissioners and the public to review that section for narrative context on fluctuations in revenues and expenditures.

The presentation and the budget amendment concluded with no further action required on the audit itself; auditors said they will provide the finalized reports to county management and the board.