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Muscoda board accepts 2023 audit; auditor flags related‑party spending and library disbursements
Summary
The Muscoda Village Board accepted its 2023 audited financial statements after its auditor reported a strong General Fund balance, an inter-fund payable from the Electric utility, a related‑party contract above the statutory threshold, and unapproved library donation‑account disbursements.
The Muscoda Village Board on July 22 accepted the village’s 2023 audited financial statements and directed staff to send the library a letter outlining the auditor’s recommendation on donation-account disbursements.
Village Auditor Bill Moilien of Johnson Block & Company told trustees the General Fund’s unassigned fund balance was $3,527,202 in 2023. He said the village policy minimum is 15% of expenditures, equal to $254,598. The Electric utility reported operating income of $129,927, the Water utility reported operating income of $83,426, and the Sewer fund showed an operating loss of $35,806. Moilien noted that, after completing a substation upgrade in 2023, the Electric utility owes the General Fund $3,565,644; he said he could prepare a debt-schedule alternative to bonds that might save about $100,000, and Administrator Cinda Johnson will explore that option.
The auditor disclosed two items of note. First, the village paid Hackl Construction/Riverway Trucking $34,589 in 2023; Wisconsin law limits an elected official’s municipal work to $15,000 in a year. Moilien told trustees that if the work was advertised and awarded to the lowest responsible bidder, the Village had satisfied statutory due-diligence requirements. Second, the auditor found disbursements from the library’s donation account that had not been approved by the Village Board; he recommended that all such disbursements be provided to the Village for review and recordkeeping in line with the Village’s internal control procedures.
Trustee E Johnson moved and Trustee Imhoff seconded to accept the 2023 financial statements and send the recommended letter to the library; the motion carried. The board did not direct other immediate remedial actions beyond requesting staff follow up on the debt-schedule option and notifying the library.
Why it matters: the audit confirms a strong General Fund position while highlighting governance items—related-party contracting above the statutory threshold and library disbursement controls—that the board agreed to address administratively.
The board adjourned after accepting the audit.
