BENSON — The audit of Benson’s 2023-24 finances paints a harsh picture: overspending, sloppy bookkeeping and enterprise funds running on fumes. But it also comes with one bright spot — no irregularities in the town’s numbers.
“Obviously, the timing of the audit was not on track for 2024,” accountant Jay Sharpe told the Board of Commissioners on Sept. 18. “Y’all usually see me in November, December. I’m here in September after the 2025 year was closed.”
Sharpe, whose firm audits Benson’s books each year, began with the good news. “The town did receive an unmodified opinion on its financial statements,” he said. “That is a clean audit opinion, obviously the opinion the town should strive for year in and year out.”…