City auditors presented the fiscal‑year 2024 audit to the Columbiana City Council and reported an unmodified (unqualified) opinion on the city’s financial statements.

Mayor David Mitchell summarized highlights from the management’s discussion and analysis, saying the city’s net position — the government‑wide measure of assets minus liabilities — stood at about $16,245,722 and increased roughly $300,000 from fiscal year 2023. The mayor said combined governmental fund balances closed FY2024 at about $5.5 million, an $441,000 (approximately 8%) increase driven largely by higher tax revenues and grant income and lower capital spending.

Walker Gann of Dent Moses, the city’s independent auditors, told the council the audit opinion was unmodified and that no reportable findings were identified that required disclosure to governance. Gann described changes in presentation required under current standards: the debt service fund was presented separately as a major fund and the city’s other‑post‑employment‑benefits (OPEB) liability is now presented on the government‑wide statement of net position following actuary valuation.

The audit also reflected a year‑over‑year long‑term liability decrease of about $257,422 and recurring tax revenue growth of about $264,000; total revenues from all sources increased by roughly $940,000, the mayor said. Mitchell delivered the required written attestation under oath that the audit and management’s discussion fairly present the city’s financial condition, as required by Section 11‑43‑85 of the Code of Alabama.

Why it matters: an unmodified opinion indicates auditors found the financial statements materially correct under generally accepted accounting principles for governments. The presentation of OPEB liabilities and fund‑level reporting changes affect long‑term fiscal transparency.

What’s next: the full audit report and letter to governance were provided to council members; auditors offered to follow up on questions and provide copies to citizens upon request.