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Winlock accepts unfavorable audit, council vows to tighten financial practices
Summary
Mayor Victoria Marincin told the council the city accepted an unfavorable financial audit for 2022–2024 and will focus on establishing clearer financial practices; the city expects the State Auditor to return in mid‑September for the 2025 audit. Council discussed grant eligibility and staffing implications.
Mayor Victoria Marincin told the Winlock City Council on April 27 that the city completed its 2022–2024 financial and accountability audits and opted to accept an unfavorable financial audit rather than expend additional time and resources locating the original discrepancies.
"The City finalized the 2022-2024 audit process for both the financial and accountability audits. The City opted to accept an unfavorable financial audit rather than expend additional time and resources attempting to identify the source of the original discrepancies," Marincin said. She said the city's focus will shift to establishing "clear and reliable financial practices and foundations." The State Auditor is expected to return in mid‑September to conduct the 2025 audit.
City Clerk Maureen Crabtree warned that until financial issues are resolved the city may be ineligible for certain grant programs. Council members discussed whether contracting outside accounting support would help; the council later tabled consideration of a CPA agreement to revisit after further review. The council did not take any additional financial action at the meeting but scheduled a Finance Committee meeting to review the city's current fiscal position.
Why it matters: accepting an unfavorable audit can limit grant eligibility and raises near‑term oversight questions. The council's next procedural step is a Finance Committee review and a State Auditor visit planned for mid‑September.
