City Receives Unmodified Audit Opinion

Wilson's annual audit, presented to the council on November 12, 2026, earned the highest opinion a local government can receive.

Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in City Hall

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Auditor Matt Braswell presented the city's annual audit with an unmodified opinion at the November 12, 2026 council meeting. City revenues rose about $4 million, or about 5%, from fiscal year 2024-25 to fiscal year 2025-26.

Why it matters

The clean opinion indicates the city's financial statements follow generally accepted accounting principles and report no questionable findings. For Wilson residents, it offers a snapshot of how public money is being tracked and reported.

The audit reflects revenue growth of about $4 million (about 5%) from fiscal year 2024-25 to 2025-26, with sales tax rising about $2 million (about 14%). The report does not detail revenue sources beyond these categories.

The players

Matt Braswell

Matt Braswell is the city auditor who presented Wilson's annual financial audit to the council.

The details

Auditor Matt Braswell reported that the audit was completed in a timely fashion with cooperation from the finance department and other city departments. Revenue growth was attributed to retail sales growth and an inflationary impact, with property tax remaining the leading income source.

Fiscal year 2024-25: baseline year for the revenue comparison.
Fiscal year 2025-26: revenues rose about $4 million over the prior year.
Thursday, November 12, 2026: audit presented at the council meeting.

Political Context

An unmodified opinion signals full conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, the standard against which municipal financial statements are judged. Wilson's clean result gives council members a baseline for evaluating future budgets.

A clean audit means the city's books have been reviewed and found accurate, which supports confidence in how local taxes are spent. Residents paying sales and property taxes can see that the city's revenue growth is being tracked and reported under established accounting rules.

The takeaway

A clean audit is a useful check on how public funds are handled, so residents can ask the council how the revenue gains will be used. Reviewing the annual audit report is a practical way to follow the city's finances over time.