The City of Marietta Audit Committee on Jan. 13 reviewed the fiscal year 2025 audit for the city’s BLW and voted to forward the report to the full BLW after hearing that external auditors issued clean opinions and found no federal single‑audit findings.

An unnamed finance presenter opened the item, saying operating revenue rose about $1.5 million year over year — driven by higher electric and water rates — and that operating revenue for the enterprise was $159,700,000 against operating expenses of $131,700,000, producing operating income of $27,900,000 and a $21,000,000 positive change in net position. Cash and cash equivalents rose from $34,900,000 to $46,600,000, the presenter said.

"Our report on the basic financial statements was an unmodified or clean opinion on those statements," said Ginny Harris, senior audit manager for Nichols Collie, the firm that conducted the audit. She told the committee the BLW opinion unit also received a clean opinion and that auditors noted no material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting and no instances of reportable noncompliance under governmental auditing standards.

Harris also said the firm completed the single audit of the city's federal expenditures, including the ARPA grant, and that audit similarly had no findings. "We applied on each of the opinion units, which are the major funds of the city," she said, describing the scope and standards used in the engagement.

In response to questions from committee members, Harris clarified an apparent deficit line on the government‑wide statement: the unrestricted net position shown as negative about $47.9 million appears on the full‑accrual government‑wide presentation because it includes pension, OPEB and long‑term debt; the fund financial statements use a modified‑accrual basis and present a different view. She also summarized broader fund‑balance and debt figures presented in the report, noting the BLW's total ending net position at about $259,000,000 and the citywide total debt figure cited at $49,000,000.

After questions, the committee moved to forward the audit to the full BLW for final acceptance. The motion was made and seconded, and the chair called for the vote by a hand raise; the committee passed the motion unanimously. With no further business, the committee adjourned.

The audit report and supporting financial statements were entered into the record and will be considered by the full BLW at its next scheduled meeting (date not specified in the committee transcript).