Auditor commends county on financial records

By Kathleen McGwin
Heather Acker, from the accounting firm of Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP, presented the audit report of financial statements to the Marquette County Board of Directors at last Tuesday’s meeting. She told the board that there were no material adjustments that had to be made to the financial records and commended the county employees for their work.

“It means that when you are presented reports during the year,” Acker said, “the numbers are accurate.”
She noted that there has been a net change in fund balance since last year due to a decline in sales tax, a decline in interest income, and a decision to pay off debt. It is desirable to maintain the fund balance at 15% for bond ratings. Marquette County’s has dropped to 12% and she suggested the county take notice of this figure.

In other business, the board passed three resolutions of appreciation to families of deceased citizens. Melvin Gohlke served five years on the County Health Committee and nine years as a County Board Supervisor. Gordon Ritchie served three years a County Veterans Service Officer. Walter Cacic served for six years as County Board Supervisor on the Zoning Board and an additional six as an advocate for the Commission on Aging.

The board also passed resolutions to amend the county budget shifting monies from the animal control budget to other accounts without changing the final budget figures and to amend the budget to facilitate early refurbishing of an ambulance. They also placed an advisory referendum question on the November ballot that asks if the Wisconsin Constitution should be amended to prohibit the transfer of funds from the transportation budget to general funds.

The board denied three pending claims against the county. One that claims the county is liable for part of the cost of the fire investigation done on property that was deemed to be arson in the Town of Harris. A second one claims the county damaged telephone equipment while plowing and a third by the Construction Business Group claims the Town of Harris acting wrongly when they hired the Marquette County Highway Department to do road repair. Denying the claims now moves forward the investigation process by the county’s insurance company.