The county was presented with a clean audit report by CPA Priscilla Norris during the Board of Commissioners meeting on Monday, Feb. 18.
“Overall, it (the audit) looked very good,” said Norris.
“We have audited the financial statements of the county of Ashe for the year ended June 30, 2012, and have issued our report thereon dated Dec. 18, 2012,” read the report. “However, during our audit we became aware of several matters that, while not involving material weaknesses in the internal control structure, are opportunities for strengthening this structure and the operating efficiency,” read the audit report.
According to the report, the General Fund (the fund used to operated the county) took in $30,287,183 in revenue.
The General Fund had an increase in fund balance of $324,590 (largely due to a transfer in from the Economic Development Fund of $277,778) compared to a decrease of $52,878 in the prior year.
The audit report also found an overall decrease of $1,860,795 to the total governmental funds, which was mainly due to capital outlay for schools, as well as county property. “This was not something that was unexpected,” said Norris.
According to the audit report, “the county’s overall tax collection rate has increased from 93.76 percent to 94.10 percent (95 percent for property other than vehicles).”
Also, the report didn’t show any instances of over-budgeting expenditures this year on the county’s behalf.
“Our audit of the medicaid program found six minor errors out of the 60 case files tested. None of these errors resulted in a questioned cost,” said the report.
The report also said there were no disagreements between Norris and county management.
“Professional standards define a disagreement with management as a matter, whether or not resolved to our satisfaction, concerning a financial accounting, reporting, or auditing matter that is significant to the financial statements or the auditor’s report. We are pleased to report that no such disagreements arose during to course of our audit,” read a letter from Norris to the BOC.
Other findings from the audit included:
- The Environmental Services Fund also experienced a decrease in net assets for June 30, 2012 in the amount of $353,384, compared to a decrease of $501,703 in the prior year.
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The Future Advanced Deed of Trust for the property owned by New River Service Authority has been recorded as a special assessment receivable on Exhibit 1 as of June 30, 2012, in the amount of $350,000 to reflect the ultimate amount settled for the deed and property in July 2012.
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