Augusta County says audit delayed as staff turnover and new software hold up single‑audit work

County staff told the Augusta County Board of Supervisors on Monday that the annual audit will not be completed on the usual schedule after a period of staffing turnover and difficulties with recently installed financial software.

"We are not done," a county staff presenter said in opening remarks to the board, adding that long‑tenured employees had retired and the new software implementation has been a "huge challenge." The staff member said auditors and the audit committee were briefed before the meeting and that auditors indicated the delays were not evidence of a financial problem with the county.

The presenter said the county is aiming to have a draft completed and presented to the board in February, but acknowledged it will miss the state code posting deadline and will post a notice on the county website explaining the delay. The briefing included discussion of federal single‑audit requirements, which the presenter said were affected this year by late OMB guidance issued in the days before Thanksgiving.

"Most localities across the Commonwealth will have to issue a separate single audit because of the delay from OMB with the regulations," the staff member said, describing the single audit as "just a small piece of our audit."

Several board members asked whether missing the deadline carried statutory consequences. "To my knowledge there's no consequence," the staff member replied, referencing the memo provided to supervisors.

The county indicated it will continue to coordinate with outside auditors, keep the audit committee informed and post updates for the public when available. The staff presenter invited questions and said a fuller draft is expected in February.