Council auditors briefed the Finance Committee on Jan. 7 about two matters concerning the city’s external auditor.

First, the firm currently engaged for the city audit, Carr, Riggs & Ingram (CR&I), is restructuring and will separate its non‑attestation services into a new entity called CRI Advisors LLC. Under the city’s existing contract terms, any restructuring requires council review and the change will be the subject of forthcoming legislation drafted by the Office of General Counsel.

Second, the auditor’s office said the three‑year engagement with Carr, Riggs & Ingram is ending and the city plans to issue a request for proposals (RFP) for auditors to begin work for the fiscal year that starts July 1. Kim Taylor, Council Auditor, said the RFP would be advertised for 21 days once issued, that staff had reached out to about 15–20 potential firms including the “big four,” and that the audit selection committee will score proposals in the city’s procurement system.

Taylor and council staff emphasized that council members participating on the auditor selection committee will be under a cone of silence from the time the RFP is issued until scoring and a recommendation are finalized. The auditor’s office anticipated issuing the RFP by the end of the week or the following week and expected scoring and a recommendation in the February timeframe, with a July 1 start date for the new contract if a change is made.

No formal procurement decision was made at the meeting; the committee was notified of the schedule and procedures and asked council members to signal if they wished to be trained and serve on the selection committee.