Sandy auditors give clean opinion; city earns two GFOA recognitions for reporting and budget presentation

The independent auditors for Sandy City delivered a clean (unmodified) opinion on the city’s annual comprehensive financial report during the Feb. 11 council meeting, and the Utah Government Finance Officers Association recognized city staff with two awards.

David Peden, partner at audit firm I Bailey, told the council the firm provided "reasonable assurance that there are no material misstatements" in the financial statements. Peden highlighted that the audit’s most significant estimate related to pension liabilities and that the firm found the pension assumptions reasonable. He reported a small uncorrected item related to depreciation expense (a system limitation) and a presentation issue involving rental income placement; both were described as not significant to the overall financial statements. The auditors proposed three fund-level adjustments (clerical/one-off items); because they were material adjustments, the auditors reported a related internal-control communication to management but did not identify findings in state-compliance testing.

Brian Kelly, director of administrative services, introduced the audit and the city’s accounting team. Nick Hales, president of the Utah Government Finance Officers Association and chief accountant for West Valley City, presented the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the year ended June 30, 2023 — Sandy’s 37th consecutive award — and the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 — the city’s 21st consecutive award in that program. Hales described both awards as the highest professional recognitions for municipal financial reporting and budgeting and named city staff recognized by the association.

Council members thanked the finance team for the audit results and awards. There were no formal actions required; the council accepted the reports and recognized staff.