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Auditors issue clean opinion; Cherokee County fund balance described as healthy
Summary
Nichols Cawley reported an unmodified (clean) opinion on Cherokee Countys 2025 financial statements, found no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies, and noted a $64 million fund balance and $152 million in general fund expenditures.
Greg Chapman, an audit partner with Nichols Cawley, told the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners on April 21 that the firm issued an unmodified (clean) opinion on the countys financial statements for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2025. "We did run an unmodified opinion on your financial statements as a whole, and that's the highest level of assurance that can be received on your financial statements," Chapman said.
Chapman said the auditors found no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in internal-control testing and issued a clean single-audit report covering federal awards after testing two major programsan ARPA award and a transit grant. "Neither of those programs had any findings or questioned cost," he said, noting the single-audit report was released that day.
The presentation highlighted key fiscal figures: general fund revenues were about 69% property taxes, 11% insurance premium taxes and 9% charges for services; total general fund expenditures were about $152,000,000; and the countys fund balance was approximately $64,000,000. Chapman characterized the fund balance as healthy under Government Finance Officers Association standards, saying a robust reserve limits the need to borrow during lean months and provides a buffer for emergencies.
Commissioners asked technical accounting questions about accruals and timing. Chapman explained the fiscal cutoff is Sept. 30 and that the county accrues property taxes expected to be received in the subsequent months under GASB guidance, which can include a 60-day accrual allowance. He also noted monthly general-fund expenditures increased about $1 million year over year and that SPLOST investments totaled roughly $85.5 million in the fiscal year, with highway projects representing the largest share.
The audit partner thanked county staff for their cooperation and said there were no disagreements with management. The board received the presentation and proceeded to other business.
