Title
Approval of Audit and Related Financial Reports Pertaining to the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2025
Body
Agenda of: December 10, 2025
Item No.: 2025-403
Amount: Not Applicable
TO: The Honorable
Board of Directors
Great Lakes Water Authority
FROM: Suzanne R. Coffey, P.E.
Chief Executive Officer
Great Lakes Water Authority
DATE: December 10, 2025
RE: Approval of Audit and Draft Financial Reports Pertaining to the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2025
MOTION
Upon recommendation of Nicolette N. Bateson, Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer, the Board of Directors (Board) of the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA),
A. Receives the reports pertaining to the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2025 Financial Audit including the FY 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, FY 2025 Report on Federal Awards, and FY 2025 Independent Auditor’s Communication with those Charged with Governance,
B. Authorizes staff to proceed with filing the annual audit reports prior to the due date with the state of Michigan; and
C. authorizes the CEO to take such other action as may be necessary to accomplish the intent of this vote.
BACKGROUND
GLWA’s By-laws, ARTICLE XII, Section 2 states the following.
The Board shall obtain an annual audit of the GLWA’s financial statements by an independent certified public accountant and report on the audit and auditing procedures in accordance with state law and generally accepted government auditing standards, as well as federal grant compliance audit requirements. The Board shall furnish at least two copies of the annual audit to each Incorporating Municipality. The audited financial statements shall be posted on the GLWA’s website. In addition, the audited financial statements shall be filed with the Michigan Department of Treasury upon approval of the GLWA Board.
Annually, the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) prepares an Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and the Report on Federal Awards in accordance with financial accounting standards and federal guidelines.
Baker Tilly US LLP (Baker Tilly) has been engaged to perform the GLWA annual financial audit and issue an independent opinion as to whether the financial statements are fairly stated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Baker Tilly also performs the federal single audit process for the Report on Federal Awards which includes the SEFA (Schedule of Expenditures of the Federal Awards), an opinion on the financial statements and a report on compliance with the federal requirements through a risk-based approach to audit specific federal programs. Baker Tilly was selected by the Board of Directors to perform these services for fiscal years ending 2025, 2026 and 2027.
With GLWA’s reports nearly complete, the next step is review by the GLWA Board of Directors with a request to approve and authorize staff to proceed with filing the report with the Michigan Department of Treasury. It should also be noted that staff will file those reports and related information with other parties such as the federal clearinghouse for the single audit report, and the Electronic Municipal Market Access system (“EMMA”) for Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (“MSRB”) requirements.
JUSTIFICATION
The following are attached pertaining to the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2025.
1. Independent Auditor Presentation by Ms. Jodi Dobson, Partner, Baker Tilly US, LLP (external auditor)
2. Independent Auditor FY 2025 Reporting and Insights from the FY 2025 Audit (which includes the Draft Management Representation Letter)
3. Independent Auditor Management Comments Summary
4. Staff Presentation of FY 2025 Annual Financial Results
5. Staff Presentation of One Pager Series: FY 2025 Audit & Financial Results
6. Report: Final Draft FY 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) (with audit opinion)
7. Report: Final Draft FY 2025 Single Audit Act Compliance Report
It should be noted that, due to the federal government shutdown that ended in November 2025, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has only recently issued the final 2025 federal compliance supplement. This requirement impacts the FY 2025 Report on Federal Awards only. Baker Tilly was able to review draft report presented to the Audit Committee on December 3, 2025 against that information. There were no resulting changes to the report.
BUDGET IMPACT
Not applicable for the proposed action.
COMMITTEE REVIEW
The Audit Committee has received updates from staff and auditors monthly during the course of the year-end audit. On December 3, 2025, the Audit Committee unanimously recommended that the Board of Directors (Board) of the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA),
A. Receives the reports pertaining to the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2025 Financial Audit including the FY 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, FY 2025 Report on Federal Awards, and FY 2025 Independent Auditor’s Communication with those Charged with Governance,
B. Authorizes staff to proceed with filing the annual audit reports prior to the due date with the state of Michigan; and
C. authorizes the CEO to take such other action as may be necessary to accomplish the intent of this vote
SHARED SERVICES IMPACT
This item does not impact the shared services agreement between GLWA and DWSD.