Lake County Approves $50K Increase for Clifton Larson Allen Contract

In a recent meeting of the Lake County Board of Supervisors, key discussions centered around the approval of an amendment to a contract with CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, a firm that has partnered with the county for over 25 years. The amendment, which increases the total compensation by $50,000 to a maximum of $150,000, was deemed necessary to ensure continuity in the county's auditing services.

The conversation began with a request for an exemption from the competitive bidding process, as no other provider could match the familiarity and expertise CliftonLarsonAllen has with the county's structure. This long-standing relationship was highlighted as a crucial factor in the decision to continue with the same vendor. Supervisor Sabati raised concerns about the lack of clarity regarding the increase in hours needed for the audit, prompting a discussion about the challenges associated with updating the county's new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.

County officials assured the board that while the exact future needs were uncertain, they had allocated $300,000 for the upcoming fiscal year to cover anticipated costs. They expressed confidence that this budget would suffice, but acknowledged the possibility of needing to return for further adjustments if unexpected challenges arose.

After thorough deliberation, the board unanimously approved both the waiver of the competitive bidding requirement and the contract amendment, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a reliable partnership during a critical transition period for the county. As the meeting concluded, the supervisors turned their attention to upcoming calendar events, signaling a shift back to routine governance after addressing this significant financial decision.