Sterling Heights' City Council received and filed the city's annual comprehensive financial report for fiscal year 2025 after independent auditors issued an unmodified ("clean") opinion.

Assistant Finance and Budget Director Nick Mackey reported the city's net position increased by $42.7 million year-over-year, driven largely by infrastructure investment. The general fund recorded $136.8 million in revenues and $134.7 million in expenditures, producing a $2.1 million increase in reserves and a general fund balance of about $43 million (31.9% of annual expenditures). Mackey noted that some increases reflected carry-forward funding and implementation of a new accounting pronouncement.

Dan Merritt, principal at Raymond Robson (independent auditors), told council the firm issued an unmodified opinion on the city's financial statements, indicating the auditors believe the statements are reliable in all material respects. Merritt also noted improvements in pension and OPEB funded status and that the city's single audit of federal awards (approximately $10.5 million in federal awards) was in process.

Earlier in the meeting the council heard a presentation from Sterling Heights Library librarians Lindsey Block and Jessica DeGreeck on expanded outreach services including mobile library visits, weekly home delivery (capacity up to 12 deliveries per week), deposit collections with assisted-living partners and a reported 95% increase in outreach visits in 2025. The council also presented two NICE Neighbor Awards recognizing local residents and business operators for neighborhood support and charitable work.

Council moved to receive and file the ACFR; the motion passed by voice vote. The audit report (214 pages) is available on the city's website.

Provenance: topicintro SEG 605, topfinish SEG 1055.

Speakers quoted: Nick Mackey (Assistant Finance & Budget Director), Dan Merritt (Raymond Robson), Lindsey Block (Librarian), Jessica DeGreeck (Librarian), Melanie Davis (Community Relations Director). Ending: With a clean audit and highlights of library outreach and community awards, the council moved on to ordinance and planning matters later in the meeting.