Thursday, May 27, 2010
Lawrenceburg Council Elects To Hire Local Auditor
Members of the Lawrenceburg Board of Mayor and Council have opted to hire a local auditor to conduct the city’s required annual audit, rather than remain with a Nashville-based auditing firm.
When it was brought to the attention of Lawrenceburg Mayor Keith Durham recently that Lawrenceburg now has a local accounting business that specializes in municipal audit, he opted to take bids on the city’s upcoming 2009-2010 audit.
The firm that has served the city very well for the past several years, Yeary, Howell and Associates, submitted a bid of $24,900 to conduct the tedious, months-long review of the city’s financial records. The second bid was submitted by Lawrenceburg resident Laura Newcome of L.J. Newcome. The Newcome bid was for $20,000.
City Administrator William McLain recommended that the council remain with Yeary, Howell and Associates because, “I know what I’m getting with them.” McLain pointed out that the city has received superb service through the firm in the past and he was loath to move to another. “They have three accountants working in the administrative offices two weeks every year,” McLain explained, noting that Newcome was the sole employee of her firm, and health and other factors could play a role in completion of the task.
The council allowed Newcome to address the board in response. She explained, “I think it would be a mistake to pay more than you have to for your audit.” She explained that she has seven years of experience in auditing and has conducted municipal audits for other entities, including the local Joint Economic and Development Board.
All members of the council expressed their desire to, whenever possible, take advantage of the local workforce. Councilman Ronald Fox pointed out, “Sometimes you just have to give someone a chance to prove they can do a job…I feel confident she can do it.”
Members voted unanimously to hire Newcome to conduct the upcoming audit. Once the vote was complete McLain emphasized, “I have nothing against Mrs. Newcome and will work with her to the best of my ability in an effort o make this the best audit ever.”
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