PERRY -- The city of Perry was given an audit equal to a clean bill of health, officially called an unqualified opinion, on its fiscal 2012 financial statements.
City Council received a presentation about its annual audit during Monday’s work session, in which the auditor said the city has a healthy fund balance for a city its size and three points of weakness to work on.
Auditor Mark Hardison, of Clifton, Lipford, Hardison and Parker LLC, said the city had $2.3 million of unassigned funds at the end of June. It’s equals about two months of city operating costs.
Mayor Jimmy Faircloth said the city has made tough decisions throughout the national recession to cut costs as revenues decreased, but the pot of leftover money doesn’t mean the city is flush with cash.
“We’re doing OK, but we can do a lot better,” Faircloth said.
Hardison said the city needs to continue working to retire bonds from 2009, implement strategies to ensure documents capital assets are recorded in the right spaces and record-keeping isn’t affected by turnover in the finance department -- as it was last year.
Neighboring city, Warner Robins, has also received an unqualified opinion from its auditors -- Nichols, Cauley & Associates LLC -- for its fiscal 2012 financial statements, according to the documents made available on the city website.
Warner Robins has two weaknesses, though different. Auditors said the city has yet to clear up documenting discrepancies at the Municipal Court, which was pointed out last year.
The city of Warner Robins also needs to develop procedures to verify vendors and contractors aren’t on the federal list of debarred or suspended parties before contracting with them.
Also Monday, Lee Gilmour, Perry city manager, spoke to council about the city watering its own plants, trees and fields instead of contracting. He said it could save the city about $12,000.
Council also gave the go-ahead for the water department to accept bids for needed water system equipment and heard a presentation for a potential archery program.
To contact writer Christina M. Wright, call 256-9685.
