Audit committee presses for component-unit audits, plans meeting with state auditor after new TRT testing request

The Grand County Audit Committee met June 13 and focused on delayed audits for several county component units and a new state-auditor request to test how the county classifies and spends Transient Room Tax (TRT) revenues.

The committee, chaired by Grand County Commissioner Bill Winfield, opened the meeting by approving minutes from the June 4 meeting. Winfield then turned the discussion to outstanding component-unit financial statements and a request from the state auditor that auditors test TRT promotional expenditures for 2024.

Why it matters: county staff and the external auditor said missing component-unit audits could force Grand County to accept a qualified opinion on the county's 2024 financial statements if the missing pieces are material. A qualified opinion could complicate federal and state filings and affect external perceptions of the county's financial controls.

What the committee heard and discussed

- Missing component-unit statements: External auditor John Heirely and county staff reported the county still lacks audit or financial submissions from several component units. Committee members said the county has seven component units in total and that four were still outstanding during the meeting; the units named in discussion included Grand County Solid Waste Special Service District, the county EMS entity (Grand Canyon EMS), the county recreation district, and a Thompson-related special service entity. Moab Valley Fire was discussed as a non-component entity whose statements the county also needs for consolidation.

- Timeline and risks: Heirely told the committee that if the county receives all component-unit information on time, the county's financial…