Menasha administration committee accepts clean 2025 audit; auditors note one finding

The City of Menasha Administration Committee voted 7–0 July 20 to accept and place on file the 2025 financial audit conducted by CliftonLarsonAllen LLP.

Erica Shaffer of CliftonLarsonAllen told the committee, “Our opinions on the financials were an unmodified, so which means it's the clean reports, cleanest we can give you.” Shaffer also said the auditors “did note just 1 finding, which is the preparation of the annual financial report.” The auditors reported no disagreements with management and no compliance issues material to the financial statements.

Auditors reviewed key figures for the year: the general fund showed a decrease in fund balance of about $317,000 compared with a budgeted decrease of about $215,000, and the unassigned portion of the general fund was reported at $3,081,000, roughly 14% of 2025 general fund expenditures. Haley Lipak summarized fund changes and debt, reporting outstanding general obligation debt of $38,472,052 at year-end and noting the legal margin was about 38% of the 5% limit.

The audit presentation included a note that during the closeout of Tax Increment District (TID) 4 auditors found an escrow account that had not been recorded on the books; auditors characterized this as not material to the overall financial statements. Auditors also flagged that new accounting standards taking effect in 2026 will change the formatting of financial statements.

Director Sassman answered committee questions about the drawdown in fund balance, citing a mix of items rather than a single cause and noting staff changes in budgeting for the Family Advantage Health Plan for 2026 to reduce after-the-fact entries. Alderman Oliver Nisenock moved to accept the audit; the motion carried by roll call vote 7–0.

The committee placed the audit on file; no additional action was taken at the meeting.