Town of Pinedale earns highest audit rating

By Robert Galbreath, rgalbreath@pinedaleroundup.com
Posted 11/17/22

“Overall, the financial statements for the town are in a great spot,” Fixter said.

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Town of Pinedale earns highest audit rating

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PINEDALE – The Pinedale Town Council received a clean financial audit report for the fiscal year ending in June 2022 from the accounting firm Summit West CPA Group at its Nov. 14 meeting.

Tim Fixter, an accountant at Summit West, presented his company’s findings to councilmembers. Fixter and his team dug through a “monstrous” amount of financial documents to get into the “nitty gritty” of Pinedale’s business operations.

Summit West CPA Group did not find any red flags in the town’s financial statements and reported Pinedale’s internal control system “worked appropriately.”

The town received an “unmodified audit opinion,” the highest audit rating a government entity can receive, said Fixter. Pinedale’s financial statements were “presented fairly,” he added.

Auditors paid close attention to the town’s use of grant money, particularly for large projects like the Pinedale Airport runway and apron improvements and expansion, Fixter explained. He reported “no findings” related to the town’s allocation of grant money.

“Overall, the financial statements for the town are in a great spot,” Fixter said.

The town continued to make “great decisions” regarding the use of tax revenue and pursuing grants.

Fixter commended town staff for improving its oversight of federal wages for projects at the airport, a suggestion made in the previous year’s audit.

Fixter expressed gratitude to town staff for providing all required financial information, cooperating with auditors and setting “high expectations” for the fiscal operation of the town.

He also thanked councilmembers for actively engaging in the community’s fiscal operations.

“A clean audit is a pleasure to present,” Fixter stated.

Mayor Pro Tempore Tyler Swafford thanked Fixter and the staff at Summit West CPA Group for conducting the audit. He also gave a shoutout to town staff for the work they put into ensuring the town’s finances were in order.

Other town news

• The council approved a temporary use application for the Sublette County Chamber of Commerce to host the Mountain Man Christmas Parade on Dec. 10.

• Councilmembers voted in favor of an annual employee retention award.

• The council agreed to enter into contract negotiations with Otterspace to build an electrical-vehicle charging station.

• Councilmembers approved the 2022-2023 snow removal contract.

• The town meeting scheduled for Dec. 26 is canceled due to the holidays.