Clark audit returns unmodified opinion; council thanks finance staff

The Township of Clark council reviewed the municipality's 2024 audit and certified that the auditors found no internal control comments, an unmodified opinion and generally stable fund balances.

Mayor Sal Albanese told the council, "we have the report here, and I'm pleased to say that we have no comments. No internal control comments." He thanked Chief Financial Officer Christy Vieira and Business Administrator Jim Ulrich for what he called a team effort in producing the report.

At the meeting a separate statement from the auditors, PKF O'Connor Davies LLP, was read into the record noting an unmodified opinion on the regulatory-basis financial statements and that the audit "issued an unmodified opinion" and reported no deficiencies in internal control or compliance. A council member noted the current fund showed total assets and deferred charges of $9,650,000 and a fund balance of $5,320,000 at year-end.

Council members moved from the audit discussion to related finance items. The council authorized the tax collector to prepare and mail estimated tax bills because the state budget and county tax board had not yet certified the township's levy. Business Administrator Jim Ulrich explained that the late state and county approvals require estimated bills now and rebilling later when final numbers are certified.

Council members also adopted a capital ordinance appropriating $50,000 from the capital improvement fund to buy a new compact excavator (referred to in the meeting as a "bobcat"). The ordinance was adopted after roll call.

The council took the audit certification by formal roll call vote and recorded thanks to finance staff for completing the work on time. No follow-up audit findings or required corrective actions were recorded at the meeting.