Finance director briefs committee on preliminary audited 2025 results and 2026 carryovers

Sam presented preliminary, progressive year-end figures for 2025 and early 2026 activity, emphasizing several items that still require reclassification before a final fund-balance is published. Key points included transfers to debt service and capital improvement projects, carryover requests (including a $75,000 homelessness contract line included in a $142,731.39 administration special projects carryover), and restricted funds such as redaction fees in Register of Deeds restricted by statute. Sam said outstanding work includes recording depreciation, amortization and CIP transfers prior to finalizing balances.

Sam told the committee the county received a TID closure payment of $257,238 and $222,752 in unclaimed property from the State of Wisconsin; sales tax receipts will be transferred to debt service once reclassifications are complete. She reported the opioid fund received $352,389 in settlement funds in 2025 and holds about $2.2 million in cash, with an expectation of roughly $3,489,755 in future settlement payments over the next 10 years. Sam also noted nearly all ARPA funds have been spent and some interest earnings remain in the grants fund that will be moved.

Committee members commended Sam and the finance team for improved reporting cadence and internal controls, including quarterly closeouts and random cash audits. Several members asked for followups: detailed tracking of the redaction/restricted accounts for the Register of Deeds, additional clarity about carryover items and a fund-balance figure after capital-asset reclassifications are complete.

What happens next: finance staff will complete reclassifications and depreciation entries, prepare a consolidated fund-balance estimate, and present updates to standing committees ahead of the county's budget cycle.