City auditor issues clean, unmodified opinion on Bowie FY2024 financial statements

The City of Bowie’s independent auditors, CliftonLarsonAllen, presented the FY2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report to the City Council on April 7, 2025, and issued an unmodified — or "clean" — audit opinion.

Aries Coleman, director of engagement for CliftonLarsonAllen, told the council the firm’s risk‑based audit approach found no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in the city’s financial controls, and the auditors concluded the financial statements provide reasonable assurance under generally accepted auditing standards. “For fiscal year 2024, the City of Bowie has a clean, unmodified opinion,” Coleman said.

The auditors noted that certain amounts in the statements are estimates, such as other post‑employment benefit (OPEB) liabilities and property tax allowances, and reported they concluded management’s significant judgments and assumptions in those estimates were reasonable. CliftonLarsonAllen also reported no disagreements with management and no management letter items for FY2024.

Council members thanked the auditing team and city finance staff for the extensive work needed to complete the audit and noted the report supports the city’s ongoing fiscal stewardship. Council and staff also noted the city will submit the financials for the Government Finance Officers Association certificate of achievement, which staff expects to receive for FY2024.