The Dundee City Council approved a three-year contract with Umqua Valley Financial to serve as the city’s independent auditor for fiscal years 2025–2027 with a city option to extend for two additional years.

City staff said the city issued an RFP and received three proposals. Staff recommended Umqua Valley Financial because the firm is an Oregon-based company, its proposal included the urban-renewal scope that some other proposals did not, and staff and finance staff valued the firm’s portal-based workflow that allows year-round document exchange to reduce audit burden during fieldwork.

Staff noted the recommended firm was not the cheapest but offered local presence and additional services; finance staff said the proposed fee is included in the current budget. Councilors expressed support for periodically rotating auditors and for having an auditor that facilitates year-round cooperation through an online portal.

A council motion to approve the contract passed unanimously. Staff will finalize the agreement and set up the audit portal for ongoing year-round document sharing.