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Southampton County accepts FY25 audit, approves school carryovers and $37,033 settlement
Summary
The Southampton County Board of Supervisors accepted a clean FY25 audit, approved multiple school- and general-fund carryovers and authorized a $37,033 condemnation settlement tied to the Newsom's project. Officials said the county remains in a strong fiscal position.
The Southampton County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 16 accepted the fiscal year 2025 audit, approved several school-related carryover appropriations and authorized a $37,033 condemnation settlement connected to the Newsom's infrastructure project.
Kimberly Jackson, the auditor presenting the report remotely, said the independent audit issued "an unmodified opinion," commonly described as a clean opinion, and that the county's main operating fund showed an increase in unassigned fund balance to about $20.8 million for FY25. Jackson said property taxes remain the county's largest revenue source at about 62 percent and noted that the county contributed $11.5 million to the school board for FY25.
Following the presentation, the board approved three school-related appropriations: a school fund carryover of $1,874,948.88, a deferred revenue appropriation of $3,473,380.50 from various sources, and a school fund regular appropriation of $48,969.79. The board also approved a general fund carryover appropriation of $180,434.06. Each measure was moved, seconded where recorded, and adopted by voice vote.
County Administrator Brian Thor told the board the audit results reflect a strong financial position. "As you can see, by the numbers, we're the county's on a very good to great financial position at this time," he said.
On the Newsom's project, staff asked the board to approve a settlement agreement for an easement payment to Russell S. Drake in the amount of $37,033; the board authorized execution of the agreement and the chair to sign the necessary documents.
Treasurer Cindy Edwards also reported improved collection rates during the meeting: real estate collections rose to 99.82 percent, personal property to 97.68 percent, and solid waste collections to 84.19 percent. Edwards attributed higher solid-waste collections in part to liens, garnishments and judgments used in enforcement.
The audit presentation included one compliance finding: a social-services personnel matter in which an employee was not timely removed; auditors reported no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in major federal program compliance. The board voted to accept the FY25 audit by voice vote.
What happens next: the county will proceed with the recorded appropriations and the administrator will execute the condemned-easement settlement paperwork. The county's finance staff will move forward on any required follow-up from the audit compliance finding.
