DuPage County Public Works Committee places 2024 audit on file after clean opinion from outside auditor

The DuPage County Public Works Committee on June 3 received and placed on file the committee's 2024 financial audit after hearing a presentation from county staff and the outside auditor.

The audit, prepared by Baker Tilly, included an unmodified (clean) opinion on the 2024 financial statements. Joe Lycak, an engagement team member from Baker Tilly, told the committee, "we did issue, once again, a clean or unmodified opinion on the financial statements," and said the audit found no reportable issues in federal spending compliance or internal-controls reporting.

The audit presentation noted total 2024 revenue of $38,800,000 and total 2024 expenses of $27,800,000; staff said the gap reflects pass-through payments and state grants. Committee staff also said unrestricted cash reserves rose from $23,000,000 in 2023 to $27,700,000 in 2024 and that the department's total net position increased from $116,000,000 to $127,000,000 year over year. County staff attributed increases in liabilities—from $34,700,000 to $39,600,000—to an aggressive construction schedule and low-interest IEPA loans taken for capital projects.

Nick Jensen, staff member, summarized the department's condition: "we are in great shape." Lycak told the committee the finance records were well prepared and that the auditor's reporting letter included only the standard observations auditors are required to discuss.

After the presentation, the committee voted to "receive and place on file" the audit so it can be incorporated into the county's overall 2024 audits. The motion passed on a voice vote.

The audit highlights were presented to the committee as part of the committee's statutory requirement to review the annual audit; committee members asked follow-up questions about how the system compares to peer sewer-and-water systems, funding sources that supported capital projects, and the timing and repayment of low-interest IEPA loans.