CliftonLarsonAllen presented the county's fiscal year 2024 audit to the Black Hawk County Board and said it issued an unmodified opinion.

"The name what we issued for your fiscal year 24 audit is what's called an unmodified opinion, also known as a clean opinion," auditor Doug Host told supervisors, adding there were no disagreements with management and only two immaterial adjustments that were not posted because they were small. Host said the county's financial statements are "materially correct as presented."

The audit slide deck reviewed fund-level changes: the general fund's fund balance rose by about $1.3 million (Host said expenditures were about $1.4 million higher, including a roughly $1.0 million contribution to UNI), rural services increased by about $374,000, and the secondary roads fund balance rose about $1.6 million because fewer projects were completed in 2024. Host said the county's governmental fund balances were up roughly $7.7 million, an 11% increase from the prior year.

Host also flagged capital and debt activity: the county issued about $4.6 million of bonds in FY24 for solid waste purposes and made approximately $3.7 million in principal payments during the year, producing a net liabilities increase of about $900,000. He noted capital assets, including roughly $6.7 million of land and $6.3 million in construction-in-progress.

On federal and state compliance testing, Host told the board auditors found no reportable items. He said the single prior-year material weakness cited in the audit had been followed up and appeared resolved in FY24.

The presentation noted roughly $12 million remained in the county's American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) fund as of June 30, 2024, and explained timing for recognizing ARPA revenue when expenditures occur.

'The board thanked auditors and staff for their work; auditors said printed copies of the report had been distributed or would be confirmed for distribution to board members.