Council reappoints Baker Tilly for three-year financial audit

The Fort Atkinson City Council on Aug. 5 approved a three-year contract with Baker Tilly for financial auditing services covering fiscal years ending in 2025, 2026 and 2027. Clerk Everett presented the RFP process: the city distributed the request to five firms, received four proposals, and disqualified one that did not meet RFP requirements.

Staff recommended Baker Tilly based on the firm’s long-standing relationship with the city, familiarity with the city’s accounts and systems, and an ability to interface efficiently with the city’s financial software. Clerk Everett said that feature reduces staff time during audit preparation by enabling a short data-extraction process.

Council discussion noted the quoted costs were in line with comparable municipalities and that separating utility- and TID-specific audit tasks means portions of the total audit cost will be billed to the relevant utilities or TID accounts. Clerk Everett estimated prior-year breakdowns show the general-fund portion of the audit has ranged historically between about $30,000 and $40,000, while the quoted total for full audit work exceeds $50,000; the clerk cautioned that specific line items (utility audits, single audits) are charged to the respective funds.

A motion to approve Baker Tilly’s proposal and authorize the city manager to execute the contract passed by roll call with no recorded opposition.