Limited Audit Cost Set at $25,000

Thanks to the person who pointed me to the resolution that came out of the closed session Monday. The City Council emerged from the executive session to vote on that item only before moving along to the regular  meeting scheduled for March 9. Somehow I missed seeing the resolution that gave details on the audit for the Department of Public Works & Urban Development.

Baker Tilly, the same firm that did the limited audit ordered by the administration at $17,500, will do the DPW&UD audit at a cost not to exceed $25,000. The resolution states that the limited audit "identified a need to further review operations" within that department, which has divisions including Recreation, Inspections, Engineering, Building, Economic Development, Community Development, Planning and the City Yard.

The cost will come out of the "adopted 2015 budget." The city is currently operating on temporary appropriations. The budget process, including council review of departmental and division requests, is scheduled to begin next month.

Given the span of divisions within the DPW&UD, one can only guess which engendered the need for closer fiscal scrutiny. The public will just have to wait for the outcome. Meanwhile, the possible tab so far for the two inquiries totals $42,500, more than two-thirds of the initial request for a full forensic audit that the council rejected in December.

--Bernice