Woodland Park board selects Eide Bailly for forensic audit after debate over timing and cost

The Woodland Park School District RE-2 board voted to engage the accounting firm Eide Bailly LLP to perform a forensic audit of the district's FY2024 finances, resolving a months-long debate about whether to start now or wait for the FY2025 audit.

Board members said the forensic work aims to determine whether problems flagged in the FY2024 audit reflect fraud or documentation and process errors. The vote to engage Eide Bailly carried on roll call with the board approving the engagement; staff will open contract discussions and return with a timeline and billing plan.

The vote followed extended discussion about cost, timing and operational impact. Several trustees and staff said the firm identified in proposals provided a relatively firm, not-to-exceed price of about $35,000, which the board cited as informed by a prior review Eide Bailly had performed. Other firms proposed…