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Maplewood council accepts 2024 comprehensive financial report after auditors issue clean opinion
Summary
Council accepted the City of Maplewood2024 comprehensive financial report and auditorsissued an unmodified (clean) opinion; council was briefed on revenue increases, an improving fund balance, and continuing concerns about the ambulance fund.
The Maplewood City Council voted July 14 to accept the city' s 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report after auditors issued a clean, or unmodified, opinion.
Auditor Andy Grice of Bergen KTV told the council the audit provides assurance that the 2024 financial statements are fairly stated in all material respects and that there were no internal-control findings or Minnesota legal-compliance findings identified during the audit. Finance Director Joe Rube highlighted that general fund revenues rose to roughly $27.1 million in 2024 from about $26.2 million in 2023, driven mainly by a $1.5 million increase in taxes. Rube also reported the city's unassigned fund balance grew to just over $18 million, about 66% of revenues, above the city's 40% minimum policy and 50% desired level.
The presentation broke down notable budget variances: intergovernmental revenues fell by about $675,000 (roughly 26%) because a large one-time public safety aid in 2023 did not repeat in 2024; investment income outperformed expectations by about $587,000; and licenses and permits exceeded budget by about $755,000. On the expenditure side, total outlays were roughly $26.0 million, about 1.3% under the budgeted $26.3 million for the year.
Council and staff flagged the ambulance fund as an ongoing concern. City Manager Mike Sabol and Finance Director Rube explained the fund has recorded operating losses in recent years (the transcript cites a 2023 loss near $1.5 million and a 2024 operating loss of about $979,000), in part because reimbursements from Medicare/Medicaid average about $680 per call while the city's average cost to respond with a full crew is about $2,200, producing an approximate shortfall of $1,600 per Medicare/Medicaid call. Staff outlined options including continuing levy support, repurposing limited one-time LGA dollars cautiously, and potentially collapsing the ambulance fund into the general fund for monitoring and long-term planning.
After questions and no further discussion, Councilmember Cave moved and Councilmember Villavicencio seconded a motion to accept the report; the council approved the motion by voice vote.
The council directed staff to continue work on long-term solutions for the ambulance fund and to return with recommendations in a future meeting.
