File #: 23-053   
Type: Resolution (Consent) Status: Passed
File created: 2/7/2023 In control: Financial and Management Services - Finance
On agenda: 2/28/2023 Final action: 2/28/2023
Enactment date: 2/28/2023 Enactment #: 2023-060
Title: Commissioner Worley - Finance - To Approve the Selection of Martin Starnes & Associates as the County's Auditors and to Approve the Current Year Audit Contract for Audit Services for Fiscal Year 2023 (Base Contract of $96,600 and includes Additional $37,500 for Potential Major Programs Over 2 Included in the Base Contract)
Sponsors: Ronnie Worley
Attachments: 1. Adopted 2023-060, 2. Audit Contract, Peer Review Letter and Single Audit Engagement Letter
title
Commissioner Worley - Finance - To Approve the Selection of Martin Starnes & Associates as the County's Auditors and to Approve the Current Year Audit Contract for Audit Services for Fiscal Year 2023 (Base Contract of $96,600 and includes Additional $37,500 for Potential Major Programs Over 2 Included in the Base Contract)
body
STAFF CONTACT
Tiffany Murray - Finance - 704-866-3032
BUDGET IMPACT
budget
N/A
body
BUDGET ORDINANCE IMPACT
N/A
BACKGROUND
Gaston County has not requested bids for its audit services since 2006. At that time Martin Starnes & Associates, CPA, P.A. was awarded the contract and has been performing the audit for the past sixteen years.

The Finance Department sent out a request for proposals to six CPA firms seeking qualifications and bids to perform our audit. Two firms responded.

Each firm submitted their proposal in two sections. The first section listed each firm's prior experience and qualifications of its personnel. The second section was comprised of the firm's audit cost for Fiscal Year 2023 and estimates for an additional four years.

Both firms were qualified to perform the audit. Martin Starnes & Associates, CPAs P.A. ranked higher than Thompson, Price, Scott, Adams & Co., P.A. with the selection committee. Martin Starnes & Associates, CPAs P.A. experience in performing governmental audits, commitment to providing quality audits, and the firms dedication to this industry impacted the decision. Their bid was $96,600, plus an additional $3,750 Single Audit fees per major program of more than two for Fiscal Year 2023 and Thompson, Price, Scott, Adams & Co., P.A. submitted a bid of $102,000.

Martin Starnes & Associates currently audits twenty-five counties, forty-six municipalities and twenty-eight other governmental units.

RECOMMENDATION: The selection committee recommends that Martin Starnes & Associates, CPAs P.A. be awarded the audit contract for Fiscal Year 2023 and continuation for additional years based on s...

Click here for full text