South Weber council accepts annual audit with unmodified opinion

The South Weber City Council voted on Feb. 25 to accept the city's annual comprehensive financial report after a presentation by auditors from Gilbert & Stewart.

Ron, the auditor presenting the report, summarized the firm's scope: verification of trial balances, confirmation of cash and debt balances, sample testing of invoices and fixed assets, analytical comparisons to prior years and evaluation of internal controls and state compliance procedures. "In our opinion, the financial statements...present fairly in all material respects...as of 06/30/2024," he said, describing the firm's conclusion as an unmodified opinion.

Council members asked a clarification about a line on the audit (page references in the packet) regarding capital assets and accumulated depreciation moving between governmental and business‑type activity columns; staff and the auditor explained the differing columns reflect the statements of net position presentation and not an error in balances. Councilman Windsor, audit committee chair, and the auditor also described that Gilbert & Stewart conducted a higher‑level controls evaluation and did not provide a controls opinion, noting the city has controls in place and no findings were reported.

Because accepting the audit is a routine, non‑controversial action, council moved to formally accept it during the meeting and approved the motion by roll call. Council requested staff to place the audit acceptance on the next agenda for formal action paperwork as appropriate.

The auditors said they performed the state‑required compliance procedures for budgetary compliance, restricted taxes, justice court and related items and found no areas requiring reportable exceptions in those procedures.