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The Andalusia City Council approved its audit report for fiscal year 2021 and approved funds for two projects during a meeting on Tuesday.

Members of the council received its annual audit report from the accounting firm, Rabren, Odom, Pierce and Hayes, during a meeting earlier this month. The report showed the city to be in sound financial position.

According to the audit, the city closed the fiscal year on Sept. 30, 2021 with net assets of $38.77 million, an increase over FY 2020 of $4.3 million.

“We made money and our cash position continues to increase from year to year,” said Missy Pierce during her report to the city.

The city’s total revenue exceeded expenses by more than $4.61 million for the fiscal year.

“This is a months-long, in-depth process. The auditors really dig in and we have to explain things to their satisfaction. They have a standard to uphold and this report shows that we’ve done a reasonably good job with taxpayer resources,” said City Clerk John Thompson.

The auditors also presented to the council an Internal Control Report, which showed no “findings,” which would be items the city needs to correct.

“For the past few years we have had a finding, but the mayor’s office, the city administrator, treasurer and secretary have acted to address that finding, which was the result of a recent federal guideline that we needed to address. This audit shows that finding has been resolved. This is the first time I recall that there has not been a single finding of any kind on our audit,” said Mayor Earl Johnson.

In other action taken Tuesday, the city approved to an initial payment to CDG Engineers firm for the Prestwood Building project.

CDG has partnered with the city in making renovations to the downtown square building and will move its headquarters into the second floor of the building in the future.

This initial payment to CDG is $289,137 and is provided from a bond issue sold last month.

The council also approved providing funds, not to exceed $55,000, for the resurfacing of the LBW Community College Nature Trail. The amount represents about half of the materials needed with the Covington County Commission also providing funding as well as labor for the project.

Other items discussed by the council included:

• approving abatements for nuisance properties.
• approving a Title VI program as a prerequisite for a grant that will allow the city to purchase vehicles for the Adult Activity Center.

The next council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 2, 6 p.m., with a workshop preceding at 5:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend these meetings.