Cumberland County auditors issue clean opinions for fiscal year ending June 30, 2024; board accepts results

Cumberland County commissioners on Jan. 9 accepted the county's audit for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, after an outside audit firm told the board it issued unmodified opinions on the basic financial statements and the federal and state single-audit reports.

The auditors, from Terry Beckett LLP, told the board the audit produced four unmodified opinions — the firm’s strongest form of assurance — and that it found no corrected or uncorrected misstatements in the county’s financial records. April Adams, engagement director for the firm, described the results and said the single-audit testing of major federal and state programs likewise resulted in no reportable findings.

The auditor also reviewed internal-control work limited to significant transaction cycles and reported no material weaknesses. Adams noted auditors did not test every control in the county, but said the work the firm performed produced no findings they were required to report.

County staff credited the finance team’s cooperation during a year that included staff turnover. Adams also noted required upcoming accounting changes — including GASB 101 on compensated absences — and flagged that a Local Government Commission financial-performance indicator was triggered for one water and sewer fund (Norcrest District) after operating expenses exceeded revenues for FY24; staff said they will submit an explanation to the LGC within 60 days.

The board voted to accept the audit results as presented. Commissioner Faircloth moved to accept the audit; a second was recorded and the motion passed unanimously.