Peoria accepts FY2025 audit; auditors report clean opinion, no control deficiencies

Peoria officials on Jan. 27 presented and accepted the city's fiscal year 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and auditor communications.

City Manager Henry Darwin introduced the item and Chief Financial Officer Sean Bridal and auditor Joshua Jumper of Heinfeld Meach & Company summarized the audit process and findings. Jumper told the council the auditors issued an unmodified opinion on Dec. 22, 2025 — the technical term for a "clean" audit — and reported no internal control deficiencies during the review. He also said the single-audit reporting package documented about $8.1 million in federal expenditures for the city and that remaining COVID-related grants continue to be accounted for in the federal grant spending figures.

Bridal and Jumper described the audit timeline and reporting package that accompanies the annual statements, including the communication to governance letter, the management representation letter and required single-audit documentation. Jumper emphasized that auditors provide reasonable, not absolute, assurance and that management remains responsible for the financial statements.

Council member Bullock praised the finance team for conservative budgeting that he said should preserve ongoing operations despite slower sales-tax growth. After brief council discussion and a formal motion to approve item 15R as presented, the council voted 7-0 to accept the audit and associated reports.

The council did not direct additional follow-up in the meeting; the audit package remains part of the public record and the communication to governance letter is included in the agenda packet.