By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Barton County received another clean audit report on its financials. Tuesday morning, the county commission heard from Senior Audit Manager Jami Benyshek with Adams Brown, who completed the audit for the dates Jan. 1, 2022, through Dec. 31, 2022.
"The nuts and bolts are that you have an unmodified opinion on your audit report, which is a clean audit opinion," she told the board. "The best type of opinion that we can issue."
Benyshek reported a few minor issues. The solid waste fund went over budget authority though no repercussion is required. Because the county spent more than $750,000 in federal funds, a single audit was performed on the Coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery fund. One payroll allocation in the amount of $156 was incorrectly applied to a grant.
"Overall, I thought the audit went really well," Benyshek said. "I know there have been some challenges with all the moving and so many moving parts at Barton County. Overall, I thought it went really well. All the employees were great to work with and answered our questions as timely as they could. We appreciate all their help getting the audit done."
Barton County entered 2023 with just over $25 million in unencumbered cash. County Administrator Matt Patzner explained that amount is merely a "snapshot" of the county's finances on that particular day, with most of that money being distributed to various departments and entities in 2023.