City of Geneva receives clean audit; finance director outlines 2026 budget schedule

Finance Director Tracy Walsh told the City of Geneva Council on Sept. 22 that the Ohio Auditor of State completed the city’s 2024 audit and issued an unmodified opinion, meaning the auditor found the city’s financial statements to be fairly presented in all material respects.

Walsh said the 2024 audited financial statements have been posted to the city website and reviewed current-year revenue and expense percentages across the city’s major funds. “Our general fund … we’ve collected 82% of what was budgeted,” Walsh said. She reported streets fund collections at 40% of budget, water 55%, wastewater 38% (noting three large grant reimbursements tied to the West Main project that will raise that figure), and lease levies at 95% of budget. On the expense side, Walsh reported general-fund spending at about 62% of budget, streets at 50%, wastewater at 44% and water at 51%.

Walsh said the finance team has implemented new software modules to help with budgeting and with preparing financial statements to meet updated reporting requirements. She also told council she and the city manager were negotiating city labor contracts; of four bargaining units, two have reached settlements and police and dispatch negotiations remain active.

On the 2026 operating budget, Walsh said the draft will follow the city’s normal three-reading schedule: first reading Oct. 27, second reading Nov. 10 and third reading Nov. 24, which would meet the statutory 30-day notice requirement for a Jan. 1 effective date if the schedule holds. “This will give us our necessary 30 days needed for the budget to take effect on January 1,” Walsh said.

Council members asked for clarification about how the new software will assist budgeting; Walsh said it will automate reporting and support future reporting requirements.

Ending: Walsh closed by asking whether council had any questions; none were substantive beyond scheduling and software confirmation.