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City manager: audit late but "no financial crisis"; council to post statement
Summary
City Manager told the council the city missed the audit deadline but has hired finance staff and is working with auditors and JLAC; he said there is no financial crisis, anticipated limited shortfall of up to two months of half‑cent sales tax, and that staff expects to submit audit materials by April.
The city manager gave a public update on the status of the city’s delayed audit and recent state inquiries, saying the city had missed the statutory audit deadline but that staff have hired a new finance director and contract accountant and are working with long‑time auditors to complete the audit. He said the city had met with the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee (JLAC) chairman and local legislators in Tallahassee to explain the situation and seek guidance.
"There is no financial crisis in the city of Vero Beach," the manager said, adding that while the city missed the audit deadline, checks have not bounced, pension payments have not been missed and no funds have been lost. He said that if an extension is not granted the worst likely outcome would be the delayed receipt of one or two months of half‑cent sales tax revenue — described in the meeting as a modest percentage of the general fund — and that grant and state revenue‑sharing payments should be released once the audit is submitted.
Council members supported posting the manager’s clarifying statement on the city website and social channels to respond to recent media reports. The manager also described labor‑contract negotiations and a settled Teamsters grievance that will add roughly $52,000 of salary expense this fiscal year but can be absorbed within existing reserves.
