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Clarkdale auditors issue clean opinion on 2025 financial statements
Summary
Auditors gave the Town of Clarkdale an unmodified (clean) opinion on its FY2025 financial statements and reported no internal-control or single-audit findings; the council unanimously approved the audit.
Steve Palmer, the audit partner for Hinton Berdick, told the Clarkdale Town Council on Jan. 13 that the firm issued an unmodified opinion on the town’s financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2025. The auditor reported no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in internal control and no state or federal compliance findings, including under the federal single-audit requirements.
The clean audit signals that the town’s fiscal reporting for FY2025 is “materially correct,” Palmer said, and reflects a positive five-year trend in assets and net position. He told the council the general fund’s revenue picture included a spike in 2024 that the audit team traced to a transfer into the general fund of “I want to say $2 million,” which did not recur in 2025. Palmer also reviewed trends in the water and wastewater enterprise funds, noting recent small rate increases and that a large portion of the wastewater fund’s net position is tied to capital assets and is not spendable.
Britney Earls, who the audit referenced as the staff lead for the process and who participated virtually, thanked Palmer and said the audit made her first audit process “very smooth and easy.” Council members praised staff for producing a “clean” audit during a year of leadership transition in finance. Mayor Prudon Bower and councilors noted the presentation’s graphs helped them see what is and is not spendable in the town’s funds.
After discussion, Council member Babett Pierce moved and Council member O’Neal seconded a motion to approve the annual audited financial statements, the annual expenditure limitation report and the single-audit report as presented by Hinton Berdick CPAs and Advisors. The motion carried by voice vote with all members present voting in favor.
The auditor said he would remain available as a resource during the year; the council directed staff to make the audit documents available on the town website and to distribute a digital copy to council members.
The council’s action was procedural acceptance of the audit report; no policy decisions or appropriations were made as part of the approval.
