By Dennis Box-The Courier-Herald

State auditors gave the city's financial books a clean bill of health last week.

City Administrator Don Morrison and Chief Financial Officer Beth Ann Wroe presented the City Council with the audit report May 15 in a special meeting.

According to Wroe, auditors gave the city &#8220clear opinions” for the financial and accounting audits.

Wroe said the state auditors gave some recommendations, but noted, &#8220There were no reportable conditions.”

Wroe took over the job as the chief financial officer in April 2006.

&#8220I think we are getting along very well,” Wroe said. &#8220We are still working on clearing up some things, but we have a system that is providing information on a timely basis. I'm feeling positive that we've come a long way.”

After Mayor Neil Johnson took office in 2005, John Weidenfeller, the city's chief financial officer at the time, resigned as of Jan. 3 2006.

Weidenfeller was hired in 2000 and there were numerous clashes between the City Council and the finance director over the years. Johnson was a member of the council from 2002 until his election as mayor.

Following Weidenfeller's resignation, the city brought in consultant Alan Doerschel, a retired financial director for the city of Tukwila.

&#8220Alan put the planning model in place for the city,” Wroe said. &#8220He set up the six-year plan and he helped me make sure the budget tracked over the summer.”

Wroe said the most significant changes in the city's books were, &#8220some items were delayed or deferred and stuck in the balance sheet. In some ways it is just a different operating strategy. We're trying to make it a more efficient system and easier to track our goals.”

Wroe said her favorite line comes from Doerschel, &#8220You can do anything you want, but you can't do everything you want.”

The city's budget is about $75 million with the actual operating budget or the yearly expenditures for the city at about $15 million.

The city has nine members in the financial department including the finance director.

When Johnson took office he changed the city's budget to a two-year document with adjustments in the off year. The current city budget was written last year and the next budget year is 2008.

Dennis Box can be reached at dbox@courierherald.com.