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County receives clean audit but commissioners flag slimmer fund balance and new public‑safety fund deficit
Summary
An independent audit presented June 2 gave Franklin County a clean opinion for fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, while auditors and commissioners discussed a drop in unassigned fund balance and a deficit tied to a new public‑safety building fund.
Heather Hunter, audit director at RHR Smith & Company, told the Franklin County Board of Commissioners on June 2 that the firm issued a clean (unmodified) opinion on the county's June 30, 2025 financial statements. Hunter said the opinion is “the highest opinion you can get,” noting the audit produced no findings, management-letter comments or questioned costs.
Hunter walked the board through key trends: general‑fund assets rose while unassigned fund balance fell by $182,852 to about $1.06 million; the county holds roughly $1.9 million in legacy ARPA funds, and a new safety‑building fund showed a year‑end deficit approaching $448,000. She also said public‑safety departments — chiefly the sheriff’s office and communications — account for about 56.1% of county expenditures.
Commissioners pressed for clarity on technical items and statutory requirements. One asked whether transfers into reserve funds complied with the state cascade in 30‑A (first contingency, then taxpayer reduction, then reserves). Hunter said the cascade and the precise statutory percentage would require follow‑up research and that she would work with county staff to provide detail. Several commissioners described the county’s current liquidity as “a little skinny” and discussed goals of roughly two to three months’ coverage versus the commonly cited 8–12% guideline.
The presentation also covered operating metrics: current and quick ratios near 1.35, a modest revenue increase (about 4.7% year‑over‑year) and a combined surplus of approximately $125,135 after accounting for budget variances. Hunter recommended continued monitoring of operations, routine review of projects and prudent use of reserves as the county moves into budgeting season.
The board did not take formal action on the audit itself during the presentation; commissioners said they would review follow‑up items raised by the auditor and requested a later staff update on statutory compliance and the reserve transfers.
