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Pinellas County posts clean audit, clerk’s office highlights low debt and transparency
Summary
County Clerk Ken Burke and external auditors told the Board of County Commissioners the fiscal year 2024 annual comprehensive financial report earned a clean (unmodified) audit opinion, the county has relatively low bonded debt and strong reserves, and the administration continues to expand public financial transparency.
The Pinellas County clerk’s office and external auditors presented the county’s fiscal year 2024 financial statements to the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday, saying the report received an unmodified (clean) audit opinion and noting the county’s relatively low bonded debt.
Clerk of the Circuit Court Ken Burke said the audit and required financial statements “were submitted to the state as required by law,” and highlighted the county’s low bonded borrowings. “We have under $70,000,000 worth of debt in Pinellas County,” Burke said during the presentation.
Jeff (auditor), a partner with Forbush Mazars, told commissioners the audit produced an “unmodified opinion,” the highest level of assurance an auditor can issue for financial statements. “We had an unmodified opinion. That is the highest level assurance you can receive that your financial statements are correct,” the auditor said.
The audit team reported no significant difficulties, no disagreements with management and no proposed audit adjustments. The single-audit work required by federal and state grant thresholds also produced no findings. Auditor materials distributed to the commission compared Pinellas’ financial indicators with peer counties and showed relatively low bonded debt and a reserve level that the auditors described as strong and able to absorb emergencies.
Commissioners commended the clerk’s office and audit team for the timely work and for the county’s public transparency tools. Burke pointed to the clerk’s web site, which publishes salaries, disbursement records and other financial documents, and said the county submits its annual report for the Government Finance Officers Association award of excellence.
The presentation did not require a board vote. Commissioners said they would use the audit findings as part of ongoing budget and policy discussions.
Ending: The clerk and auditors said the county will continue to publish its reports and update the commission as budgetary and capital issues arise. The full annual comprehensive financial report and the auditor’s commentaries are available on the clerk’s website.
