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County auditor reports missing agency accounts, no federal compliance findings; commissioners approve 2024 contract
Summary
Auditor Rodney Burns told commissioners several bank accounts were not on county records and the appraisers fund closed slightly in the red; the single-audit of federal funds (including ARPA) found no compliance issues, and the county contracted audit services for $18,200.
Rodney Burns, the contracted county auditor, briefed Linn County commissioners during the Dec. 9 meeting on the 2023 financial statements and the single-audit work for federal funds.
Burns said auditors found several bank accounts that were not reflected in the county's accounting records (examples included park accounts and certain agency receipts). He said those accounts are often treated as agency funds the county administers on behalf of entities and that staff will work to reconcile and include them in regular records going forward.
On the county's financials, Burns noted the appraisers fund showed an ending unencumbered cash deficit of approximately $5,958 at Dec. 31 due to bills posted in January; he characterized that as a timing issue rather than a control weakness. The single-audit required because the county spent more than $750,000 in federal funds identified ARPA as a major program; Burns said the federal compliance testing uncovered no findings or compliance exceptions in the tested programs.
Burns described the county's use of the regulatory basis of accounting (a state-allowed waiver of GAAP for counties) and explained how that differs from GAAP presentation. He also walked commissioners through schedules of long-term debt and the report structure.
After discussion about continuity and procurement of auditing services, commissioners voted to contract with Bonnie M. Burns (listed in the motion) for the 2024 audit at $18,200 with an additional $3,000 per major federal program if extra testing is required.
What happens next: County staff will work with finance and the auditor to reconcile agency accounts identified by Burns and to schedule audit procedures for the coming fiscal year.
