HOLLIDAYSBURG - Blair County's latest audit presented the best financial picture in three years and showed the county ending 2009 with $541,000 to spare.
It's a very positive report and indicates that the county's financial picture has improved, auditor David Scott of Young, Oakes, Brown & Co. said Tuesday.
Three years ago, the audit found the county ended the 2006 fiscal year with a $1.6 million deficit after starting with a $1.4 million surplus, meaning the county spent about $3 million more than it received in revenue.
For 2009, the audit showed the county's fund balance ending at $2.9 million, after starting 2009 at $2.4 million, generating the $541,000 improvement.
Commissioners were happy with the audit.
"Our expenses continue to go up. ... But another year with a surplus, in a year when we didn't raise taxes, is a positive," Chairman Terry Tomassetti said.
Meling said she was pleased auditors found the county to be "in sound financial condition," a description in the written report which can be reviewed at the commissioners' or the prothonotary's offices.
"That indicates that the 'spending within our means' philosophy is working," Meling said.
Commissioner Donna Gority was also pleased with the audit.
But Gority cautioned that budget requests for next year are surfacing and can affect the county's future.
Tomassetti and Meling agreed with the need to be cautious.
"This is good news, but what's around the corner?" he asked.
Tomassetti said he suspects the cost of health insurance may increase substantially next year. The amount won't be known until closer to the policy's May 1 renewal.
Meling said she would rather have a larger fund balance, considering the size of the county's budget.
"The audit shows that amount is building," Meling said. "But the next question is: Can we hold onto that? Past commissioners had a large fund balance at one time, and then it was spent."
The 2009 audit shows Valley View Home breaking even, another positive factor, Scott said.
Commissioners said the audit also reflects cost-cutting and revenue-increasing efforts such as a $600,000 savings during construction of the magisterial district judge's building in Eldorado, an additional $500,000 in revenue from 911 cell phone fees and a savings of about $150,000 to close the juvenile detention center.
Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 946-7456.
