Portage city councillors approved the draft audited financial statements at their regular meeting last week. Finance Chair Brent Budz says what they look for is to have the results that management generates match those of the audited statement. Budz notes if discrepancies occur, those would be issues that need to be identified but adds he's happy to report that their statement went through a clean audit. He says there were surpluses at the end of 2016 but notes some of that was the result of differences in accounting methods.

Budz adds for the most part 2016 provided them with good footing going into this year---and beyond. He says council was happy to approve the financial statements, which will be available for public viewing at City Hall as well as on the city's website.