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Citrus County audit: external auditors give unmodified opinion, no findings
Summary
External auditors presented the county's annual comprehensive financial report and issued an unmodified (clean) opinion, reporting no audit or internal-control findings and improved net position and reserves.
The county's external auditors told the Board of County Commissioners on April 22 that Citrus County received an unmodified opinion on its annual comprehensive financial report and that auditors found no material weaknesses, significant deficiencies, or compliance findings.
Jeff Wolf, partner at Forvis Mazars, said the firm issued an "unmodified opinion," the highest level of assurance auditors give, and reported "no audit adjustments" and "no control findings or compliance findings" in its reports. He also described a clean single-audit of federal and state programs the county met thresholds to test.
The report presented several measures that auditors and county staff called signs of financial strength. Wolf said unrestricted governmental net position moved from a negative $13.3 million to a positive $13.7 million, and that the county's major enterprise funds generally showed healthy unrestricted net position. On the fund level, the county's unassigned fund balance as a percentage of total expenditures decreased from 39.5% to 35.4% but remained, in Wolf's words, a "very strong, healthy reserve." The auditor also said revenues exceeded the amended general fund budget by about $22.5 million and expenditures were about $7.8 million under budget, noting that some underspending stemmed from encumbrances that may roll into the next fiscal year.
Susan Sullivan, reading remarks on behalf of Clerk Perry, thanked county staff and constitutional officers and noted an internal contest to provide photographs for the annual report covers. She introduced Wolf to present the audit findings.
Commissioners asked for clarification about year-end budget variances and how much of the underspending might be encumbered for the next fiscal year. Wolf said portions of the expenditure underrun reflect open purchase orders that could roll into the next year.
Why it matters: A clean audit reduces near-term fiscal risk and gives the board and residents confidence in the county's financial reporting as the commission prepares its capital improvement and operating budgets for fiscal 2026.
Sources and speakers: Jeff Wolf, partner, Forvis Mazars; Susan Sullivan, chief financial officer, Clerk Perry's office; Commissioner Diana Fenigan.
