Southampton County accepts FY2025 audit showing stronger reserves and a ‘clean’ opinion

The Southampton County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 16 unanimously accepted the county’s FY2025 audit, which the presenter said carried an "unmodified opinion" for the year.

Kimberly Jackson, presenting the financial section of the audit electronically, summarized the auditors’ findings and financial statements and said a clean opinion was issued for fiscal year 2025. She told the board the county’s general fund showed an approximate $5,900,000 increase for FY25 and an unassigned general fund balance of about $20,800,000.

The auditor’s summary listed property taxes as the county’s largest revenue source at roughly 62% of total revenue and noted a $3,600,000 increase in property tax receipts from the prior year. Jackson also noted intergovernmental (state and federal) revenues represented about 21% of revenues and that the county contributed $11,500,000 to the school board for FY25. She reported clean audit opinions for internal controls and compliance and said there was one compliance finding related to a social-services personnel matter.

Board members asked no substantive follow-up questions and moved to accept the audit. The motion carried by voice vote.

The acceptance will allow the county to finalize financial reporting for FY25, post the audit to official records and proceed with any follow-up the auditors recommended. The board did not vote on any additional policy changes at the meeting.

The audit presentation and the board’s acceptance were made during the regular board meeting; the vote to accept the audit was unanimous.