Boone County received an anticipated unmodified (clean) audit opinion for the fiscal year ended Nov. 30, 2024, auditors told the Boone County Board on July 31, 2025. The audit firm Sikich reported financial statements are “presented fairly in all material respects,” while also identifying three material weaknesses that county management is addressing.

The independent auditors’ report and a staff presentation framed why the audit matters: an unmodified opinion is the highest level of assurance on government financial statements and is used by stakeholders to judge fiscal health and compliance. Sikich’s presenter said the county’s net position rose about $8 million and that the county has roughly six to nine months of general fund reserves — a range commonly considered healthy.

Sikich partner Lindsay (audit partner with Sikich) told the board the audit included an unmodified compliance opinion on state and federal program spending, but she reported three material weaknesses: two repeated issues related to segregation of duties and one new finding tied to the year-end close process and an unusually high number of adjustments. The presenter attributed the new finding in part to a midyear change in the county’s general ledger software and the transition to a new audit firm, which required numerous year‑end adjustments.

County staff said management has supplied written corrective action plans with estimated completion dates for each finding. Finance staff described the cash-account finding as linked to bank accounts that are controlled by other departments (for example, the circuit clerk, county clerk and sheriff) and said remediating it will require cooperation across department heads. The county’s IMRF-related pension plans were reported as well funded overall; the primary IMRF plan showed a funded ratio above 100 percent at the latest measurement date presented.

Board members praised county staff for the audit outcome while noting the work still to be done on the material weaknesses. Auditor Lindsay said she expected final audit reports within a day of the meeting, once remaining administrative items were closed out. The board did not take formal action on the audit at the July 31 meeting; auditors presented results and staff noted corrective action plans will be included in the final report.

Ending — The county’s finance office will publish the final audit report on the county website; board members said they will monitor the corrective action timelines and follow up with affected department heads as those plans are implemented.