Caswell County commissioners voted Dec. 15 to accept the fiscal year 2023–24 audit after a presentation from Thompson, Price, Scott & Adams.

Auditor Hunter Wiseman told the board the audit, completed in accordance with the county's contract, identifies 14 financial-statement findings and five financial performance indicators of concern that must be addressed to the Local Government Commission (LGC). He said the general fund balance declined from $16.2 million to $14.5 million and unassigned fund balance fell to about $1.8 million, or roughly 5.46% of general-fund expenditures, down from about 11% the prior year. "We note the county has adopted GASB standard 100 accounting changes and error corrections effective for fiscal year 2024," Wiseman said, and summarized issues including late audit submission, budget violations, internal-control weaknesses, missing preaudit verbiage on checks, and a fidelity bond violation.

Commissioners pressed staff on causes and timing. Finance staff and the auditor said recent turnover in finance positions and the transition to third-party billing for EMS contributed to delayed reconciliations and long-standing receivables; the county has engaged outside CPA help and a League of Municipalities consultant to assist with catch-up work. Wiseman emphasized that corrective steps taken in 2025 will not erase findings for the 2024 audit year, which the LGC will evaluate on the record.

After Q&A, Commissioner Rose moved to approve the audit report; Commissioner Smith seconded. The board approved the report by voice vote. Staff must prepare a detailed audit response to the LGC within the 60-day period noted in the auditor’s AUC 260 letter.

What happens next: county staff and the manager will work with the board and the finance officer to develop the LGC response and to implement corrective actions, including strengthened year-end procedures and updated internal-control policies. The board discussed scheduling a work session once preliminary FY25 numbers are available to review progress against corrective actions.