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County board backs outsourcing ACFR work after late audit; administration authorized to engage CLA
Summary
After months with a late audit and staff overtime, the Champaign County Board directed administration to proceed with contracting CLA for an annual ACFR and a one‑time setup to rebuild the core financial workbook; the board was told the one‑time setup would cost about $49,000 and recurring work about $20,000 a year.
Champaign County board members gave administration the go‑ahead to contract outside auditors CLA to prepare the county’s annual comprehensive financial report (ACFR) and to perform a one‑time cleanup and rebuild of the county’s consolidated financial workbook.
The decision follows a lengthy discussion about the county’s late audit and the operational impacts the delay had on partner agencies, notably the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission (RPC). Board members credited CLA with experience preparing ACFRs for other local governments and heard estimates that outsourcing these pieces would cost about $49,000 for a one‑time setup and $20,000 annually thereafter.
Finance committee members told the board that the county paid roughly $48,000 in additional fees to CLA this year because of extra work caused by the late audit and an additional $14,000 for overtime paid to a key RPC staff member who did cleanup work. Administration recommended contracting CLA to take on ACFR preparation and rebuild the large spreadsheet that forms the foundation for the audit; CLA representatives said they perform this service for many clients.
The board’s finance chair summarized the recommendation: have CLA rebuild the key workbook as a one‑time project ($49,000), then pay CLA approximately $20,000 annually to prepare the ACFR. Speakers said the arrangement would not prevent the auditor’s office from performing other statutory duties, but would relieve that office of the heavy year‑end publication task.
“...we got estimates from them on that. At the same time, we also received an estimate, for them to do a one time cleanup slash setup of a couple really key documents that are used, kind of as the foundation for the audit,” the finance chair said during discussion. Officials said contracting CLA is common practice elsewhere and that the plan could reduce overtime and other costs associated with repeated late audits.
Board members asked for speed: administration received a majority informal affirmation at the meeting to proceed so CLA can begin work promptly. Officials cautioned that outsourcing ACFR preparation is not a guaranteed fix; timely reporting from all departments remains necessary for an on‑time audit.
The board asked staff to bring back contract documents and estimated timelines; members also discussed broader governance steps to address fiscal infrastructure and recurring reconciliation work that had been moved from the auditor’s office to the treasurer’s office earlier in the recovery effort.
