City auditor says Muskegon’s 2024 financial statements present fairly; general fund posts small deficit

The City of Muskegon’s independent auditors told the City Commission Jan. 14 that the city’s 2024 financial statements “present fairly in all material respects” and provided a summary of results and follow-up items.

The auditor’s report, delivered by Eric Van Dodd of Brickley DeLong, said the city’s total general fund revenues rose to about $40.8 million—up roughly $1.3 million from the prior year—largely driven by increases in income, property and state excise tax distributions. Total general fund expenditures increased to about $40.3 million, driven in part by inflationary and wage pressures; the result left the general fund with a slight decrease in fund balance for the fiscal year and an ending fund balance reported at $9,589,228 (this total includes the city’s budget-stabilization reserve of about $1.8 million).

Why it matters: The auditor’s unmodified opinion is the strongest routine assurance an entity can receive from an external audit. Commissioners also heard that although the…