Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Audit topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City accounting manager reports clean audit, ARPA spending closed out
Summary
Springfield’s accounting manager told the City Council the independent auditors issued a clean opinion on the 2023 financial statements, the audit and related governance letter showed no material findings, and ARPA spending has been reported to federal authorities.
Meg Alotfel, Springfield’s accounting manager, told the City Council at its work session that independent auditors issued a clean opinion on the city’s audited financial statements and raised no material findings. "It basically says that we had a clean audit," Alotfel said, summarizing the auditor’s report and governance letter that appear in the council packet.
The management discussion and analysis (MD&A) and other transmittal material outline the city’s financial position, Alotfel said. The MD&A — located in the packet — explains year-over-year changes in governmental and proprietary funds, and the statistical schedules include debt and population figures. Alotfel noted most liabilities decreased and the city’s net position increased, driven mainly by additions to capital and restricted assets.
Alotfel told the council the audits for the city and the CETA program were filed on time with the Secretary of State and that the city again received the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) award for its 2023 financial reporting. She described the award as requiring additional schedules and disclosures beyond the state minimum.
On federal pandemic relief, Alotfel said operating grant revenue in the statements includes ARPA funds the city has been recognizing as related projects are completed. She confirmed the city’s final ARPA report was filed with the federal government as of Dec. 31, and staff expects to reconcile remaining activity shortly.
Council members asked clarifying questions about revenue drivers. One councilor asked whether a reported $1.3 million increase in property tax receipts resulted from new housing versus appreciation. Alotfel said the increase reflected both general real-estate appreciation and the Measure 50 limit (roughly 3% annual value increases), noting that totals above that level generally require new properties or exemptions being removed from the rolls.
No formal action was taken at the work session on the audit; Alotfel said the audit report and governance letter will be on the consent calendar at the council’s 7:00 p.m. meeting for formal acceptance.
For readers: the audit opinion and the governance letter are in the council packet (report page 33); the MD&A begins on page 39 and the transmittal letter is in the front of the packet.
