Auditor reports ‘unmodified’ opinion as district flags Cook County tax delay; reserves and capital transfers highlighted
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Summary
External auditors told the Proviso Township High School District 209 board they expect an unmodified audit opinion for the district’s financial statements while a Cook County delay in property-tax distribution has left the district with temporary cash pressure; auditors reviewed fund balances including capital transfers and life-safety reserves.
The district’s external auditor reported that, based on work completed to date, it expects an unmodified opinion on Proviso Township High School District 209’s audited financial statements while one federal compliance (single-audit) item remains pending federal guidance.
At the board meeting, the auditor from Baker Tilly told trustees the audit procedures are mostly complete and that the pending single-audit follow-up stems from a delayed federal compliance supplement. "An unmodified audit opinion is the highest level of assurance that your financial statements present fairly in all material respects," the auditor said.
The presentation called out several fund-level details: the general/operational funds largely operated within means and showed surpluses in fiscal year 2025; the municipal retirement fund showed about an $85,000 decrease in reserves; the capital projects fund showed a year-end deficit driven by a $50,000,000 transfer from the education fund to support multi-year facilities work, leaving roughly $5,800,000 in capital-projects reserves at year-end; and the life-safety fund—which can be used only for approved health and safety projects—had about $3,300,000 in ending reserves.
Separately, the district treasurer reported a distribution delay from Cook County: as of the five-month reporting point the district had received approximately 12% of expected property-tax revenue and was at roughly 39% of budgeted expenditures, creating a timing mismatch the administration said it is monitoring closely. The auditor and treasurer both warned that delayed tax remittances can quickly reduce apparent reserves and stressed the importance of maintaining liquidity while awaiting county distributions.
The auditor closed by restating the opinion expectation but noted that the single-audit compliance item will be finalized in January–February; the firm said it would notify the district if anything in that work changes the audit opinion.
What happens next: the auditor and administration will complete the remaining federal compliance work before the March filing deadlines and will update the board if any findings or modifications arise.