Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the City Finance Audit topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City auditor issues clean opinion; council told city remains in strong financial position
Summary
The city's external auditors told the council they issued an unmodified (clean) opinion on the fiscal year financial statements, reported a $17 million general‑fund balance (about 6.5 months of operating expenditures) and recommended periodic review of enterprise fund rates.
David Erwin, the partner who oversaw the City of Conyers' annual audit for Malden Jenkins, told the council the auditors are issuing "a clean or unmodified opinion" on the city's financial statements and that the audit produced no findings or material weaknesses.
Erwin summarized the government‑wide results, saying the city reported approximately $117 million in assets and deferred outflows of resources and about $72.2 million in capital assets net of accumulated depreciation. He reported revenues of roughly $40.7 million and expenses of about $41.5 million, resulting in an ending net position reported near $48 million, a decline he attributed primarily to increased public‑works spending and capital activity rather than operational shortfalls.
At the fund level, Erwin said the general fund ended the year with total revenues of about $27.8 million and expenditures of roughly $24.4 million, leaving a fund balance reported at approximately $17 million. "When you break that out," he said, "around $3.2 million is legally restricted" for items such as capital projects and debt service, leaving an unassigned fund balance of about $13.1 million. Erwin noted that figure represents about 6.5 months of operating expenditures.
Erwin also reviewed the city's enterprise funds: sanitation posted about $273,000 in operating income; the landfill showed a small loss (~$20,000); stormwater had a reported loss of about $407,000; and the municipal golf course reported a loss near $326,000. He recommended periodic review of rate structures to help ensure those funds remain self‑sustaining over time.
Erwin closed by thanking city finance staff for cooperation and called the results "a testament" to strong internal controls and disciplined budgeting. The council offered thanks to Isabel and the finance team and had no further questions from the dais.
Next steps: the audit report will be part of the city's official financial record and available as the annual comprehensive financial report submitted to the Government Finance Officers Association for its award process.
