Southwest Ranches gets clean FY25 audit; town says reserves, single-audit ‘clean’

Mayor Brightcrues and town finance staff presented a summary of the town’s fiscal year 2025 annual comprehensive financial report after auditors from Citrin Cooperman delivered their findings. Steven Emery, the engagement partner, told council the firm issued an “unmodified opinion on the basic financial statement,” meaning the financial statements required no material modification.

Emery said the auditors also issued a clean report under government auditing standards — with no significant deficiencies or material weaknesses — and that the required single-audit of federal/state funds (triggered at the $750,000 threshold) likewise had no reportable findings. “We did not have to post any adjusting journal entries to your books and records in order to issue this clean opinion,” Emery said.

Town staff described fund-balance and reserve positions. The administration reported the town’s unassigned fund balance was about $18,100,000 in the prior year and increased slightly (by roughly $68,000) year-over-year; the unassigned fund balance is about 32% of operating reserves, above the town’s 25% policy floor. Staff noted roughly $1,000,000 of unassigned fund balance had been used to complete and start priority capital projects including drainage, road maintenance, and town hall work.

Council members praised the finance team’s work. Mayor Brightcrues said the audit provides “tremendous assurance” to residents that budget decisions were implemented properly. Council and staff discussed next steps: the finance team will submit the FY25 financial statements for the Government Finance Officers Association certificate of achievement and will continue to publish updated project timelines and an enhanced spreadsheet to help residents track when roads and projects may be scheduled.

The audit presentation concluded with an offer to take questions from council and an invitation for the auditors to assist with follow-up. The town’s finance and administration staff will send the updated project spreadsheet to council by email and continue discussions about funding priorities during upcoming budget work sessions.