York County Council heard a presentation of the county's fiscal year 2024 audited financial statements and related compliance testing on Jan. 6, 2025. Elliot Davis, the county's independent auditor, told the council the firm issued an unmodified opinion on the financial statements and on federal grant compliance.

The audit firm's presentation summarized key figures: a year-over-year increase in total net position of about $135 million, current-year revenues of roughly $400 million against expenses of about $265 million, and an unrestricted government-wide net position of approximately $96 million. Elliot Davis also reported combined governmental fund balances of about $550 million and that the county maintained its AAA credit rating during 2024.

Why it matters: An unmodified opinion is the highest level of assurance an auditor can give that financial statements are fairly presented under generally accepted accounting principles; it is material to the county's borrowing costs and public trust. The auditor said the opinion supports confidence among bondholders, grantors and other users of the statements.

Elliot Davis reviewed the audit process and internal-control considerations, telling council the audit identified no misstatements that required correction, and no significant deficiencies or material weaknesses were reported. The firm noted one accounting standard change affecting capital-asset reporting that increased reported capital assets by roughly $7.8 million to $8 million because bulk purchases must be capitalized when aggregated.

The firm's representative summarized compliance testing of federal grants (about $13 million of expenditures tested, primarily U.S. Treasury pandemic-related funds) and said the county was, in the auditor's opinion, materially in compliance with the applicable grant requirements.

Council members thanked county management and the finance staff for their work assembling the records auditors examine. Chair Christie Cox said more detail would be available during the budget process and noted the county had used reserves and borrowing strategically for capital needs.

The presentation closed with auditors inviting questions and offering the full audit report for council review. No formal action was required for the auditor's report during the meeting; the audit was presented for council information and public record.

Ending: Council members said they would review the audit booklet and revisit details such as fund balance policy and capital transfers when they discuss the 2026 budget and capital program later in the year.