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Auditor gives Wythe County an unqualified opinion, flags long‑term obligations and reconciliation items
Summary
External auditor Corbin Stone reported an unqualified opinion on Wythe County’s financial statements but highlighted long‑term obligations totaling roughly $118 million and recommended improved reconciliations for cash and sewer collections.
An outside auditor told the Wythe County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 25 that the county’s financial statements received an unqualified opinion, while also highlighting long‑term liabilities and recommending stronger reconciliations of cash collections.
Corbin Stone, the presenter identified in the agenda as the county’s auditor, said the county ended the most recent fiscal year with an unrestricted fund balance the auditor characterized as healthy. He attributed part of the growth in fund balance to federal stimulus and ARPA funds and warned those revenue boosts are likely to decline over time.
Stone summarized long‑term obligations across county government, enterprise funds and schools at about $118 million and described the number as reasonable for a rural county on a per‑capita basis. "Total long‑term obligations … for the county" were discussed in the presentation, the auditor said on the record.
The audit team made several recommendations: reconcile the treasury’s ledger with bank accounts, improve the periodic reconciliation of sewer law and collections, and continue the auditor’s test procedures for payroll and benefits to ensure proper termination accounting. Stone said the sewer fund’s net position has generally improved in recent years but cautioned that some assets (such as lines in the ground) are not liquid and stressed ongoing monitoring.
Board members asked whether interim financing affected the numbers; Stone confirmed the temporary financing for the sewer project influenced reported net position. In response to a direct question about theft, Stone said auditors did not find evidence of theft in their tests but cautioned auditors cannot guarantee that no theft occurs — a standard caveat in audit reports.
The board took no formal vote on the audit at the meeting; the presentation concluded with the auditor offering to answer follow‑up questions and provide contact information for additional inquiries.
