The city of Vicksburg finished fiscal 2015 in a strong financial position with a $351,866 general fund surplus and $37 million in available cash, according to a recently completed audit of city finances.

The surplus was one of several financial items discussed as the Board of Mayor and Aldermen received the annual audit from accountant Booker T. Camper, the certified public accountant who performed it.

Camper told the board he was delivering a “clean opinion,” meaning the city finished the fiscal year without any problems. He said he had one issue, adding the city needed to include the police department’s cash fund in its Munis computer accounting system for better record-keeping.

He said the city’s available cash —available money used for operations — was an increase from $24 million in fiscal 2014.

“The revenue collected by the city is pretty well equal to the expenses, so I think the present administration has exercised correct fiscal management of the city,” Camper said. “The city’s net assets are equal to the city of Hattiesburg, which has a larger budget and is twice Vicksburg’s size.

That speaks good for the city of Vicksburg.”

City Accounting Director Doug Whittington added the city’s general fund showed a fund balance in the general fund of $16.99 million, “Which is 57.88 percent of the city’s fiscal 2015 operating revenue. We adopted a resolution a year or two ago we would maintain a 25 percent fund balance for the fiscal year, which is great.”

“Great? That’s awesome!” Mayor George Flaggs Jr. said.

“We are in a very good financial position in the city,” Whittington said.

“We’ve been able to govern ourselves to the point we’ve been able to demonstrate good, fiscal policies,” Flaggs said.

He reminded the board the administration began its term with a deficit and now had a $3 million reserve fund.

“We’re operating with 57 percent cash ahead, we have not furloughed, we have not laid off, and we’ve increased benefits,” he said, pointing out the board in 2014 raised the city’s minimum wage, approved a 1.75 percent pay raise and is considering another employee pay raise.

“The credit goes to all of us — the board and the employees,” he said.

“It speaks well for the city of Vicksburg that we have been able to do everything we’ve resolved to do — pave streets and give raises,” South Ward Aldermen Willis Thompson said. “In order to do that and show a surplus, and meet our financial goals speaks volumes for this administration when you look at where we started and where we are now.”

“I think this is a very conservative board in that we’re still able to do things and do it without raising people’s taxes,” North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield said. “I think that bodes very well for this board and the employees, and we should recognize them with a pay raise.

“But the key is this — when you get a (financially careful) board like this in this day and time and in any city, it speaks volumes for the city of Vicksburg.”