Auditing Helper
The Ledger's review of Helper's budgets, audits, debt and redevelopment money.
The full audit section: stories by subject, key figures and records →
Background
Auditing Helper: what the city's latest audit shows
Helper's audited statements for fiscal 2025 report $15.2 million in long-term debt, most of it owed by the water and sewer systems, and a general fund that spent $151,634 more than it took in. The auditor gave an unmodified opinion and reported one state compliance finding.
Read the explainer →Latest update · October 17, 2026
Helper's fiscal 2025 audit reports three funds over budget, including $459,331 for a building project
Helper's fiscal 2025 audit reports that the Municipal Building Authority fund spent $459,331 on a public works building project with no adopted appropriation, and that the sewer and garbage funds also exceeded their budgets.
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- Politics
Helper's fiscal 2025 audit reports three funds over budget, including $459,331 for a building project
Helper's fiscal 2025 audit reports that the Municipal Building Authority fund spent $459,331 on a public works building project with no adopted appropriation, and that the sewer and garbage funds also exceeded their budgets.
- Politics
Helper's fiscal 2025 general fund budget included a $330,000 transfer; none was made
Helper's fiscal 2025 general fund budget included a $330,000 transfer in. The audit shows no transfer was made, and the fund's balance fell by $151,634. The year before, the electric fund sent $350,000 to cover a general fund shortfall.
- Politics
Helper retired a 2015 water loan and drew $2.4 million on a new one running to 2064
Helper's fiscal 2025 audit reports that the city paid off a $1,794,000 water revenue loan and had drawn $2,412,000 on a new 1.5% water loan that matures in 2064. The water system also spent $1.16 million in federal pandemic recovery money.