Grain Valley audit returns clean opinion; officials discuss water/sewer operating loss

Mike Groszek of Troutt Beeman & Co., P.C. presented the City of Grain Valley’s 12/31/2025 annual audit to the Board of Aldermen, delivering what he described as "a clean opinion." The auditor walked elected officials through the independent auditor’s report, consolidated balance sheet, governmental and proprietary fund statements, and detailed notes including capital asset activity, debt, and pension disclosures.

Finance Director Steven Craig and Alderman Ryan Skinner asked staff questions about the water and sewer enterprise. Skinner raised an operating loss figure of approximately $918,000, and Craig explained that depreciation and minimum-purchase commitments on water purchases helped create a timing-related operating loss while the city still maintains a large fund balance for planned capital projects such as the Minter Road improvements and a new water tower. The audit summary also noted pension-related amounts on the financial notes, including listed pension liabilities and other uncovered liabilities that staff said will be managed through the city’s existing schedules and reserves.

The presentation covered ARPA and intergovernmental revenue tracking and showed no new long-term debt taken on during the audit year. Groszek noted restricted cash items and urged continuing transparency in fund accounting and the budget process. Mayor Bob Headley and staff signaled the 2027 budget process is underway, with departments preparing requests for the coming year.