External auditors give Goshen Central School District a clean opinion; single-audit pending federal guidance

Justin Wood of Nugent Hausler, PC told the Goshen Central School District Board of Education on Oct. 14 that the firm issued an unmodified ("clean") opinion on the district's financial statements and on its internal control and activity-fund reports.

Wood said the firm also prepared a single-audit report for the district's federal special-education cluster but left that report stamped "draft" because the federal government had not yet issued the final compliance supplement required to complete the audit. "Once they do, we will review it, ensure that we've completed the proper audit procedures. If not, we will go back and do those additional procedures if they're needed," Wood said.

The auditors identified the district as being in "strong financial condition," Wood said, noting that the district added to its insurance reserve, capital reserve and Teachers' Retirement System reserve in 2024-25 and has well-funded reserves overall. The audit presentation to the board described recent accounting standard work, saying the district has implemented Governmental Accounting Standards Board guidance noted in the report.

Board members and auditors discussed potential budget pressures ahead, with Wood and district staff calling out increasing special-education costs as an item to watch in 2025-26. Wood said the district should monitor special-education spending and related out-of-district placements during next year's budget process.

The audit committee had reviewed the full report in advance; Wood said his partner had met with the committee earlier in the evening. The board accepted the audit presentation and the auditors' explanation that the single-audit remains in draft pending the federal compliance supplement.