Judson ISD board approves annual audit firm ranking and $84,500 expenditure for audits

The Judson ISD Board of Trustees on Wednesday approved the district’s recommended ranking for request for qualifications RFQ 24‑35 for annual financial audit services and separately approved an expenditure of $84,500 to engage the top‑ranked firm.

Board members discussed elements of the evaluation rubric and asked staff to explain scoring decisions. One trustee said parts of the scoring worksheet appeared inconsistent with prior rubrics and that “principal place of business here in the state of Texas” should have been scored as a full five points. District staff responded that evaluators had favored firms with a San Antonio office or nearby presence and that Whitley Penn remained top ranked even with full scoring adjustments.

On the expenditure, trustees were told the $84,500 figure represents the not‑to‑exceed budgeted amount and that the firm estimated roughly 432 hours of work for the engagement; an administration memo showed an approximate blended hourly rate of about $196. Trustees asked whether actual cost could be lower if the firm completed work faster; staff said the district would negotiate after award and that the contracted hourly rates would apply if extra time was required. The motion to approve the ranking passed 6‑2‑0; a subsequent motion to approve expenditures ≥$50,000 passed 6‑0.

During discussion, trustees said the district had reexamined the firms during a recent RFP process and considered past pricing and references, and one administrator noted references from large districts such as Northside. No trustee proposed reopening the RFQ or rebidding at the meeting. The board recorded the votes in open session; details of the evaluation rubric and point allocations were provided to trustees by administration.