External auditor gives Livingston County a clean 2024 audit; single-audit shows ARP spending compliant

Plant Moran partner Bill Ricky presented Livingston County—s audit for the year ended Dec. 31, 2024, to the Board of Commissioners on June 23 and said the firm issued an unmodified (clean) opinion on the county—s financial statements and found no compliance findings in the federal single-audit related to American Rescue Plan (ARP) spending.

Ricky told the board the county received just over $21.6 million in federal funding in 2024 and that auditors specifically examined about $13.4 million of ARP dollars spent by the county in 2024; the auditor reported no findings on that testing. Ricky said the county has about $617,000 in ARP funds carried forward into 2025/2026 that must be spent by Dec. 31, 2026.

The auditor also disclosed a small deficit in one federal grant fund (a timing issue tied to when reimbursements were received). Ricky said the deficit is roughly $55,000 and that state policy requires the county to file a deficit-elimination plan; Treasurer Jennifer Nash told the board she will bring the plan back in July.

Highlights from the presentation

- Opinion: Unmodified (clean) audit opinion on the county—s financial statements for 2024.

- Single-audit: County received $21.6 million in federal funding in 2024; auditors reviewed $13.4 million in ARP spending and reported no findings.

- Fund balances and revenues: General fund revenues were about $61.4 million in 2024, driven primarily by an approximate 8% increase in taxable value, which produced about a $2.6 million increase in property-tax revenue over 2023. Interest income and rental income made up much of the "other" category; interest income was about $3 million in 2024.

- Expenditures: General fund expenditures rose on paper because prior years used ARP funds in different accounting lines; the 2024 general-fund expense increase reflected changes in ARP accounting rather than entirely new recurring spending.

- Legacy costs: Pension funding improved to about 77% funded with an unfunded liability in the meeting cited as about $49.95 million; retiree health care (OPEB) was reported as overfunded at about 118%.

Board questions and next steps

Commissioners asked about timing and how to get audit reports earlier in the meeting cycle; the auditor said the firm will aim to provide the audit at least one week before the regular packet in future years and noted timing dependencies (for example, the road commission audit must be finalized before the county report is issued). Treasurer Nash confirmed she will file the required deficit-elimination plan with the state and that a receivable is on the county—s books for the grant reimbursement.

Ending

After questions and brief discussion the board voted to accept the audit resolution. The auditor said county staff—s cooperation made the audit process run smoothly; the firm thanked staff for their assistance.