Mayor Earl Johnson said Friday was a “red letter day” for Andalusia, even if the reason it was special was all about being in the black.

The city council met Friday afternoon to receive its final audit for FYE 2015 from Ken Odom of Rabren, Odom, Pierce and Hayes, PC.

“Your net cash reserve (or cash in the general fund) increased $3.8 million in 2015,” Odom said. “The change in the fund balance was $5 million.”

Odom said the $1.2 million difference in those two numbers reflects a reduction in accounts payable.

The audit only had one finding, and its one nearly every government agency receives, Odom said.

GASBY 68 in the Governmental Accounting Standards Board, based in Norwalk, Conn., he explained.

“From a financial reporting standpoint, they don’t see any difference between Andalusia and New York City. To them, government is government, and they think every government should have a person on staff who has the ability to prepare this financial statement.

“I don’t agree with them, but that’s what they stay,” Odom said. “There is nobody currently on your staff to do this, nor do you want to pay to get someone. It’s not a cost savings to do so.”

As a result, that must be recorded in the financial statement, he said.

“As a general comment, I can tell you that the city of Andalusia is in a best financial position it has been in a long time,” Odom said. “It’s been in good financial position all along. The increase in the cash, the increase in fund balance, and the fact that those translate in the open market for those who understand these statements, and is continuing – is because of the increase in sales tax revenue. Going forward, I anticipate you will continue to be in that position.”

Year over year, Johnson said, sales tax collections in Andalusia for January 2016 were up 26 percent over the same period last year.