Lebanon City says 2024 audit found no findings; budget on track

The mayor told the Lebanon City pre-council on March 19 that the 2024 financial audit “contained no findings,” though the auditor’s management letter recommended timelier account reconciliations, a matter staff had already begun addressing.

The mayor said the budget is on track: with almost 17% of the budget year completed, revenues were “almost 15%” and expenditures “close to 12%.” He noted the city’s second-largest revenue source, real estate tax bills, had not been mailed as of the end of February.

Council members asked why the audit covered 2024 rather than a more recent period. The mayor explained the timing was a “couple months” behind schedule after an early retirement of the finance director and a transition in administrative oversight. Melissa Q, director of administration, stepped in to provide hands-on oversight while staff worked through documentation, and the city “lost our spot in the auditor queue,” the mayor said, noting auditors are busiest July–December because they serve many school districts.

The mayor described the audit timetable as standard when staffing transitions occur and said the city expects to resume a more typical schedule in the coming year. The communication transmitting the audit was from a firm identified in the meeting materials as Barbane Thornton and Company.

The council did not take a vote at the pre-council meeting on the audit; the report was presented for review and questions. The mayor invited any additional questions and said staff would continue follow-up on the reconciliation recommendation.