Auditors report clean opinion on Vermilion CountyFY2025 finances; $1.6M federal awards and ARPA spending highlighted

Sandy Cook of CliftonLarsonAllen told the Vermilion County Board that the firm issued unmodified (clean) opinions on both the countyfinancial statements and its federal-awards reporting for fiscal year 2025. The audit showed total government-wide net position just under $90 million, a decrease of about $3.6 million from the prior year, and $1.6 million in federal-award expenditures with the American Rescue Plan Act funds identified as the major program.

Cook said auditors use a risk-based approach and noted several accounting adjustments and correcting entries made during the audit, some timing differences in state electronic receipts, and a duplicate entry that required correction. The auditors found no reportable findings in the single-audit portion for the county this year, which the presenter described as the second consecutive year without single-audit findings.

The audit included a management letter with one control recommendation for the countyanimal shelter: implement strengthened cash controls including dual counts and verification of bank deposits. Cook said county staff had already begun steps to implement dual-count procedures.

Cook also flagged significant estimates in the financial statements, including workerscompensation liabilities (determined by a third-party administrator) and other post-employment benefit liabilities (based on an outside actuary). The report noted the countyhas limited long-term debt, a strong liquidity position and increased capital outlays in 2025 tied to land acquisitions, building upgrades and highway projects.

Board members asked clarifying questions and thanked the audit team for their work; the auditors noted required filings that follow the audit, including federal data-collection forms and the annual financial report to the state comptroller. Cook also reminded the board of forthcoming GASB standard changes that may affect disclosures in future years.

The board did not take formal action on the audit at the meeting beyond accepting the presentation and arranging for public distribution of the audit materials.