External auditors issue clean opinion on Arlington’s fiscal 2024 comprehensive annual financial report

CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA), the county’s external auditor, presented the fiscal year 2024 annual comprehensive financial report (ACFR) to the County Board on Dec. 17 and delivered a clean, unmodified opinion.

Key points from the audit presentation - Opinion: CLA reported an unmodified (clean) opinion on the County’s financial statements and on the five federal programs tested under the Uniform Guidance single audit. - Internal control and findings: Auditors said they found no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in internal control over financial reporting and no findings of noncompliance in their testing of federal awards. - Accounting changes noted: CLA and staff discussed the implementation of recent Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) standards, including GASB 101 (compensated absences) and GASB 100 (reporting entity) items such as the reclassification of the stormwater fund. Auditors also referenced sensitivity around significant estimates (e.g., compensated absence liability and school self‑insurance incurred but not reported reserves). - Communications: CLA said there were no disagreements with management and no difficulties encountered in conducting the audit; management receives a required communications letter detailing notable accounting policy changes.

Board reaction Board members praised staff and the auditor for the thorough work and the clean results. County officials said the clean opinion presents a positive signal for Arlington’s financial management and transparency.

Ending Auditors and county finance staff said they will present more detailed audit materials at the audit committee in January; the board will receive the final ACFR materials and make them available to the public as usual.