Arlington City Audits and Financial Reports
Arlington, Virginia publishes its official city audits and annual financial reports through county finance and records pages. This guide explains where to find Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports (CAFRs), audit reports, and related disclosures, how to request copies, and which county office handles audits and public records. Use the official links and steps below to access reports, file a records request, or contact the finance office for clarification.
Where to find audits and annual reports
The county's consolidated Financial Reports page hosts recent CAFRs, audited financial statements, and other fiscal publications. Access the Financial Reports repository for downloadable PDFs and summary pages here[1]. For copies not posted online, submit a FOIA request via the county FOIA page here[2].
Penalties & Enforcement
Audits and annual reports themselves are disclosures; financial noncompliance or failure to publish required reports is overseen by Arlington County management and may involve administrative review. Specific monetary fines or civil penalties for late publication or disclosure are not specified on the cited county financial or FOIA pages Financial Reports[1] and FOIA[2].
- Enforcer: Arlington County Department of Management and Finance (Finance division) and County management.
- Inspection/oversight pathways: internal audit reviews and county financial oversight units; complaints begin with Finance or FOIA intake.
- Appeals/review: not specified on the cited page; use the FOIA process or contact Finance for review directions.
- Fine amounts and escalation: not specified on the cited county pages.
Applications & Forms
To obtain reports not posted online, submit a FOIA request using Arlington County's FOIA instructions and portal here[2]. The county page provides submission steps; specific form numbers or fees are not specified on the cited page and may follow Virginia FOIA guidelines.
How to access common report types
- Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR): downloadable PDFs on the Financial Reports page.[1]
- Audit management letters and auditor notes: included with CAFR or available on request via FOIA.[1]
- Annual budgets and performance reports: published on the Budget and Financial Reports sections of the county website.
Action steps
- Check the Financial Reports page for the latest CAFR and audit PDFs.[1]
- If a document is missing, file a FOIA request via the county FOIA page.[2]
- Contact the Department of Management and Finance for clarification or to inquire about audit schedules.
- If fees apply under FOIA, follow the county's fee estimate and payment instructions.
FAQ
- Where can I download Arlington's most recent CAFR?
- Visit the county Financial Reports page to download the CAFR and related audit documents. See the Financial Reports repository for recent years.[1]
- What if the audit or report I want is not on the website?
- If a report is not published online, submit a FOIA request through Arlington County's FOIA page to request the record.[2]
- Who enforces compliance with financial reporting?
- Arlington County's Department of Management and Finance oversees financial reporting; specific enforcement penalties are not specified on the cited county pages.[1]
How-To
- Open the Financial Reports page to look for the latest CAFR and audit PDFs.[1]
- If the document is not posted, prepare a FOIA request describing the specific report and date range.
- Submit the FOIA request via the county FOIA portal or email as directed on the FOIA page.[2]
- Monitor responses and follow up with the Department of Management and Finance if clarification is needed.
- Pay any applicable FOIA fees as estimated by the county and receive the documents.
Key Takeaways
- Start at the county Financial Reports page for CAFRs and audit PDFs.[1]
- Use the Arlington FOIA process to request unpublished or older reports.[2]
Help and Support / Resources
- Arlington County Department of Management and Finance
- Arlington County Budget & Financial Reports
- Arlington Open Data (financial datasets)
- Arlington FOIA: How to request records