Auditing Smithfield
The Ledger's review of Smithfield's budgets, audits, debt and redevelopment money.
The full audit section: stories by subject, key figures and records →
Background
Auditing Smithfield: what the city's audit, budgets and debt records show
A guide to Smithfield city's finances from its FY2025 audited financial statements, its adopted budgets and City Council minutes: an unmodified audit opinion, two state-compliance findings, $1.4 million in bonds and a water tank the city is funding from cash reserves.
Read the explainer →Latest update · October 16, 2026
Smithfield raised garbage and recycling rates in July. Here is what the city said drives them
The City Council voted 5–0 in June 2026 to raise monthly garbage, recycling and green-waste rates. Staff cited a 4% increase from the carrier, higher Logan landfill fees and can costs. The FY2027 budget raises the carrier contract line to $1,130,000.
Timeline
- Smithfield raised garbage and recycling rates in July. Here is what the city said drives them
- Smithfield's cash-funded water tank: what the minutes say about cost and schedule
- After an audit finding, Smithfield approved moving $3 million into its capital fund
- Smithfield's FY2025 audit: two state-compliance findings and an unmodified opinion
Latest updates
- Politics
Smithfield raised garbage and recycling rates in July. Here is what the city said drives them
The City Council voted 5–0 in June 2026 to raise monthly garbage, recycling and green-waste rates. Staff cited a 4% increase from the carrier, higher Logan landfill fees and can costs. The FY2027 budget raises the carrier contract line to $1,130,000.
- Politics
Smithfield's cash-funded water tank: what the minutes say about cost and schedule
City officials reported in November 2025 that the contract for a 3-million-gallon water tank had been signed with Spindler Construction and that the city would pay for it in cash. The expected completion moved from September 2026 to November 2026 to the first quarter of 2027 in later reports.
- Politics
After an audit finding, Smithfield approved moving $3 million into its capital fund
The City Council voted 5–0 in December 2025 for a budget amendment that moved $3 million from the General Fund to the Capital Improvement Fund, which the city manager tied to the audit's 35% fund-balance threshold. A later budget filing estimates a larger FY2026 transfer.
- Politics
Smithfield's FY2025 audit: two state-compliance findings and an unmodified opinion
The auditor reported that Smithfield city did not document 40 hours of financial training claimed on its fraud risk self-assessment, and that the General Fund's unreserved balance was 36%, above the 35% state threshold. The opinion on state compliance was not modified.