Findlay auditor releases 'Popular Report'

FINDLAY — Making city finances easier to understand has to be a popular idea. That's not lost on the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), based in Chicago, Illinois. The association now encourages governments to supplement their annual comprehensive financial report with a simpler "Popular Annual Financial Report" (PAFR), which is designed to offer an overview of government financial activities. Findlay's PAFR for fiscal year 2024 has been released by the city auditor's office. The report is also available on the city of Findlay's website, www.findlayohio.gov, and is listed on Auditor Jim Staschiak's page. The city's first PAFR, prepared for fiscal year 2023, won an award for outstanding achievement from the GFOA. In the report's opening letter, Staschiak said the city's full annual financial report is 254 pages of detailed financial statements, notes and schedules, along with very detailed statistical information. The annual report is prepared following Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and audited by Julian & Grube, Inc., Westerville. "The city received an unmodified opinion on the audit, which means that no significant deficiencies were identified that required modification," Staschiak said. The full annual report is also available on the city auditor's page at the city's website. Staschiak said the PAFR is designed to give Findlay's citizens summarized financial data as a means of increasing awareness and knowledge about the operations of the city. The PAFR is only eight pages long. "Citizens deserve transparency when it comes to their tax dollars, and this report is designed to help assist you in gaining a better understanding of the city's resources and how we put your tax dollars to use," Staschiak said. The report gives a breakdown of city income tax collections over the past four years, and shows that "employer withholding payments" have accounted for over 57% of collections. Income tax collections topped $38 million in fiscal year 2022 and dropped to $32.7 million in fiscal year 2024. The PAFR also shows the city spends the most money on security. "Security of Persons and Property Expenses" include the cost to operate the city's police and fire departments. About 41.27% of the city's budget was spent on security in fiscal year 2024.