Committee receives mid‑year management audit report, directs clerk to place extension and competitive‑solicitation plan on Board agenda

The Finance and Government Operations Committee on Jan. 22 received the Management Audit Division’s mid‑year report on the FY2024–25 work plan and launched a procedural directive concerning the county’s independent auditor contract.

Cheryl Solove, Management Audit Manager, summarized work to date: two final audits (roads maintenance and the district attorney’s office), one confidential draft audit (extra help audit), six audits launched or starting, and approximately 55,100 hours expended on audit work (about 4,500 hours on the work plan). She said a sixth audit’s entrance conference was scheduled the following day.

A committee member noted that Harvey Rose has served as the board’s independent auditor for decades and that the clerk of the board has not issued a competitive solicitation for management audit services since roughly 2010–2011. The committee moved to direct the clerk of the board to place an item on the Feb. Board of Supervisors agenda to recommend a short‑term single‑source contract extension for Harvey Rose that would allow the clerk’s office and county counsel time to develop and implement a competitive solicitation for management audit services. The motion referenced that Harvey Rose should be encouraged to respond to any forthcoming solicitation. The committee voted to receive the report and advance the clerk‑of‑the‑board action.

Why it matters: The committee’s direction balances continuity of audit services with a commitment to competitive procurement practices. The committee requested a short extension to preserve audit capacity while allowing time for a formal solicitation process.