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County auditor issues clean opinion as board approves five‑year budget forecast
Summary
Mack and Associates reported an unmodified (clean) audit for the fiscal year ending Nov. 30; auditors noted no internal-control findings and an approximate $15.9 million increase in net position. The board then reviewed and approved a five‑year budget forecast through 2030 that projects modest levy increases and temporary general‑fund losses tied to a new building and expected contracts.
Laurie Pope of Mack and Associates presented the county’s audit and said the firm issued an unmodified, or "clean," opinion for the fiscal year ending Nov. 30 and reported no internal‑control deficiencies. Pope said total assets were reported at roughly $111.4 million, including cash and cash equivalents of about $53.5 million and investments around $31.7 million, and noted an increase in net position of about $15.9 million largely driven by increased property‑tax revenue.
Pope described the county’s modified‑cash‑basis financial statements and thanked department heads for cooperation. She emphasized that program revenues did not fully cover expenditures and that general revenues — primarily property taxes — bridged the gap.
Finance staff later presented a five‑year forecast (2026–2030) that assumed modest levy increases (roughly 3% in tax year 2026, 3.5% in 2027–28 and 4% in 2029) and projected short-term general‑fund losses tied to interest trends, operating costs for the new administration building and recently negotiated or pending collective‑bargaining settlements. Staff told the board the forecast aims to preserve a roughly six‑month reserve and that bond maturities will restore revenue capacity later in the plan.
The board approved the five‑year budget forecast. The audit and the forecast were discussed at committee meetings prior to the full board presentation; no audit findings were reported.
