Independent auditors give Boyertown Area SD a clean audit; pension and federal grants highlighted

Jeff, the audit partner presenting remotely, told the board the independent audit for the year ended June 30, 2025, will be issued with an unmodified — or "clean" — opinion on the financial statements and the district’s major federal program compliance testing. "We will be issuing an unmodified, also known as clean opinions on the financial statements," he said.

The audit presentation framed the district’s fiscal position on two levels. At the entity‑wide level, Jeff summarized that the district reported roughly $257 million in assets as of June 30, 2025, with long‑term liabilities materially influenced by the district’s share of the statewide public school pension shortfall. He said improvements in the pension plan materially reduced the district’s net pension liability compared with the prior year and drove a roughly $27 million improvement in the district’s reported net deficit for the period.

On the fund (budgetary) basis — the accounts the board most often monitors — the auditors showed general‑fund revenue finished higher than budget and expenditures came in below budget. The presentation listed budgetary figures: budgeted general‑fund revenue about $143 million versus actual revenue near $151 million, and budgeted expenditures of about $144 million versus actual expenditures of about $134 million. The auditors said the district was able to transfer roughly $15 million to other funds to support long‑term capital needs and that the board’s general fund showed an increase in fund balance for the year. The presentation also noted the winding down of ESSER federal pandemic funding and that the district spent roughly $4.2 million in federal awards during the year.

Jeff flagged implementation of a new accounting standard for compensated absences, which required restating opening balances and increased the reported compensated‑absence liability. He emphasized that the change affects entity‑wide reporting and not the district’s budgetary practices.

Board members asked procedural and timing questions. Auditors said the final audit must be submitted to federal reviewers by the March filing deadline and requested any board questions be returned within two weeks so the report can be finalized for the March legislative meeting.

What happens next: the auditors will finalize their report after addressing any board questions and will bring the final audit back to the board for formal acceptance at a future meeting.

Source: Presentation and Q&A with the auditors (audit partner "Jeff" and Mr. Lentz).