Airport audit yields clean opinion as airport authority is folded into county finances

Auditors from Martin Starnes delivered a clean annual opinion on the airport’s finances and told commissioners this will be the last airport authority audit because the airport has been folded into Lincoln County and will be recognized as a separate enterprise fund.

Chris Turpin, a senior auditor, said the audit yielded an unmodified opinion with no internal control or compliance findings. The airport fund showed a revenue decline of about $170,000 (7%) from 2024 to 2025—mostly lower capital contributions—and expenses rose about $161,000 (9%) due to contracted services, yielding a net‑position increase of about $380,000 (4%). The auditor also noted a very high quick ratio in the airport fund calculation and confirmed staff cooperation during the audit.

Board members asked about providing the audit slides to the airport advisory board; auditors said they will forward presentation materials and contact information for audit manager Elsa Swenson. Commissioners were informed that airport employees were taken onto county payroll prior to year‑end, which removed retirement liabilities from the airport authority at year‑end.