City receives positive audit report

MANCHESTER, Ky. — The City of Manchester has received a clean bill of financial health following the completion of its most recent independent audit, city officials announced this week.

Abner & Cox, PLLC, a certified public accounting firm based in London, conducted the audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023. The report concluded that the city’s financial statements “present fairly, in all material respects” the financial position of the City of Manchester, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.

The auditors found that the city’s governmental activities, business-type activities, and component units were all in proper order, with no material misstatements discovered. In addition, the review of internal controls, compliance with laws, and financial reporting standards revealed no significant issues .

Mayor Steve Collins praised the outcome, calling it a reflection of the city’s commitment to responsible management.

“This positive audit is proof that Manchester is being run the right way,” Collins said. “Our citizens can feel confident knowing their city is transparent, accountable, and financially stable. We take great pride in being good stewards of public funds.”

The report did note that the city had omitted certain supplementary sections, such as the management’s discussion and budgetary comparison, which are typically included under federal standards. However, auditors emphasized that the absence of those sections did not affect their overall positive opinion of the city’s financial statements.

Copies of the complete audit report are on file at Manchester City Hall, where citizens may review them during normal business hours. Residents may also request personal copies for duplication costs not to exceed 25 cents per page, while summaries prepared in accordance with state law (KRS 424.220) are available to the public at no cost.

City officials said the report demonstrates Manchester’s continued progress in strengthening its finances while maintaining transparency and accountability.