City audit returns clean opinion; auditors note compensated‑absence accruals

Leah Lisonbee, CPA, signing principal with CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, presented the 2024 audit and executive summary to the Appleton City Finance Committee on Aug. 25, 2025, reporting a clean audit opinion and no internal‑control deficiencies.

Lisonbee said, “Overall, the audit for the city went very well this year,” and noted that auditors found no deficiencies in internal control over financial reporting or over federal and state program compliance. She told the committee the city received about $17,000,000 in federal funds and about $3,000,000 in state funds during the year; two federal programs were audited as major programs (CFDA 21.027, ARPA, and a new program identified as 97.044 for radio equipment where the city acted as host/grantee), and the state program tested was transit operating aids.

The auditors discussed a new Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) standard on compensated absences that changed when accumulated leave must be accrued. Lisonbee said the city implemented the standard and recorded approximately $869,000 for governmental activities; a separate $127,000 amount for transit was not recorded this year and “will get trued up in 2025,” she said. The firm described the amounts as immaterial to the audit opinion but noted they must be communicated to governance as uncorrected misstatements.

Lisonbee also reviewed the firm’s required communications to governance, accounting estimates, and trend tables included in the audit package. She praised city finance staff for facilitating remote work and timely responses, saying the city’s records were “buttoned up with a bow.” Committee members asked no follow‑up questions during the presentation.

The committee accepted the audit presentation as the public hearing item. The presentation included contact information for Lisonbee and Danielle, the audit director, for follow‑up questions.