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Village auditor reports clean opinion and highlights strong fund balances
Summary
CLA principal Amber Juriske told the Harrison Village Board the audit resulted in a clean, unmodified opinion; she summarized fund balances (assigned ~$4.8M; unassigned ~$5.3M), unspent capital proceeds of about $9M and a legal debt margin of roughly $89M, and recommended procedural improvements.
Amber Juriske, a principal with accounting firm CLA, told the Harrison Village Board on June 30 that CLA has completed audit testing and will issue a clean, unmodified opinion on the village’s 2024 financial statements. “We issued a clean, unmodified opinion,” Juriske said during a 40‑minute presentation that reviewed accounting policy changes, adjustments and fund balances.
Juriske walked trustees through the general fund and fund‑balance classifications, noting about $4.8 million in assigned balances (including fire‑station and equipment set‑asides) and an unassigned fund balance of roughly $5.3 million. She also said restricted funds include approximately $177,000 earmarked for fire protection and that capital projects contain about $9 million in mostly unspent bond proceeds.
On technical matters, Juriske said GASB standards applicable to fiscal 2024 (including changes affecting compensated absences and presentation reclassifications) were evaluated and determined immaterial to the financial statements. She reported corrective adjustments were made during the close process (noting tax roll and capital project revenue/expense items) and that there were no unresolved or compliance issues that would change the opinion.
Juriske cautioned the board to continue strengthening documentation and internal controls: “It is very important that the village then reviews and approves those financial statements, ties them out to your records, and make sure that you're in agreement with any of the adjustments,” she said, adding CLA will provide templates and work with staff going forward.
Board members asked follow‑up questions about several specific funds, utility cash flows and the planning needed to align capital expenditures with corresponding revenue sources. Juriske highlighted the village’s legal debt margin — about $89 million of capacity — and said the village has roughly $14 million in outstanding general obligation debt as of December 31, 2024.
What’s next: Juriske said the firm will issue the final statements after the village returns the management representation letter; trustees were asked to review the draft and approve the rep letter in the coming weeks.
