By Chris OrletRecord Managing EditorJust weeks after the city of Warrenton received a “good” rating from the Missouri state auditor, city officials heard from the CPA firm hired to do its independent financial audit. This time the results were even better, officials said.The annual financial audit by the St. Charles’ firm Botz, Deal & Company, P.C., shows the city’s finances in good order, said Allen Schulte, a certified public accountant.“This is one of the better audits I go on, it’s in that good of shape,” said Schulte. “No difficulties were encountered with the audit and there were no material misstatements.”The audit of the city’s financial statements, major funds and business activities from the financial year ending June 30, 2013, showed that by and large over a five-year period most general revenues held steady. The exceptions were utility taxes, which have gone up 31 percent, and charges for services, which rose 76 percent over the period from 2009 to 2013. This was due largely to the city charging for trash pickup, Schulte noted.According to the audit, sales taxes have declined over the five-year period by 2.6 percent, while property taxes rose 9.8 percent.During the last fiscal year, charges for services dropped 5.5 percent due in part to the city swimming pool being closed during part of last summer, Schulte said, but the five-year shows charges for services increasing 77 percent.Licenses, permits and fines were down about $70,000 from last year. Schulte attributed this to “more people obeying the law and learning where the police are likely to be.” However, over five years the fund increased 79 percent.Schulte noted that the city was holding its spending, and that total expenditures had increased by less than 1 percent from a year ago.The biggest expense remains the police fund, due largely to the city taking over the municipal court from the county. Police costs were up 21 percent over the five-year period. Meanwhile expenditures for both recreation and streets were down 14 percent.Proprietary fund revenues and expenses showed that revenue was up 11 percent over the five-year period, while expenses were up 14 percent.Other significant findings of the audit, Schulte said, was an increase in the city’s capitalization threshold from $2,500 to $5,000.“I thought the audit reflects that the city is in sound financial situation,” said Alderman Gary Auch.Auch also requested that the audit be put on the city’s website so that it is easily accessible to citizens. “That way people can see it and ask questions without having to come down here to see it,” he said. The Record will post a link to the complete audit on itds website www.warrencountyrecord.com when it becomes available.Audit shows city finances in good shape