Auditor gives St. Clair an unmodified 2024 opinion; flags ledger posting issue

Kristen Duca, the city’s auditor, told the St. Clair Board of Aldermen on Nov. 17 that the city received an unmodified (clean) opinion on its 2024 financial statements.

Duca said the statement of net position shows total assets of $27.4 million, liabilities of $5.8 million and a net position of $21.5 million for the city as a whole. She said governmental activities increased the city’s net position by $921,000 in 2024, and business-type activities increased by $266,000.

The auditor highlighted the statement of cash flows for business-type activity and said there was a net increase in cash of $4.8 million during 2024, which she attributed to the issuance of certificates of participation late in the year. "That is because you issued your certificates of participation near the end of 2024," she said.

Duca said the audit includes required notes and two letters at the back: a standard communication letter (which raised no disputes) and a report on internal controls and compliance. She identified one internal-control issue: "significant transactions that were not posted to the general ledger," specifically school accounts and the certificates issuance. She said staff is working to post those items to the ledger so decision-making and compliance will improve.

Administrator Wilson acknowledged the finding and said staff are already discussing ways to get the unposted cash accounts into the general ledger. The board briefly discussed the auditor’s contract length and was told Duca will continue to serve under contract for another two or three years.

The board received a PDF copy of the 30-page audit report and accepted Duca’s recommendation to contact her with follow-up questions.

The audit presentation concluded without a formal vote; the board moved on to other agenda items.