Fort Thomas council to consider $35,000 forensic audit after $320,000 write-off review

City staff told the council on Feb. 17 that an ad hoc committee selected accounting firm Dean Dorton to conduct a forensic review of recent financial activity and internal controls, including a lookback that would cover three years of records related to a roughly $320,000 write-off.

The mayor and staff said the firm estimated the work at just under $35,000 if the full scope is required, and that the engagement would include interviews, document review, testing of controls and an executive summary for the mayor and council. Staff emphasized the firm would stop early and charge less if the root cause was identified before reaching the full scope.

Council members pressed for a clear final report that would include root-cause analysis and recommended changes to prevent future problems. Several members reiterated that the audit is intended to test controls and not merely re-run the annual financial audit. Questions were raised about whether the Kentucky State Auditor's Office could be engaged, and staff said they had posted an RFP and earlier attorney reviews on the city website.

At the meeting the mayor asked the council to approve a budget amendment of $35,000 to proceed; the motion was requested on the record but a roll-call vote on that specific amendment was not recorded in the provided transcript.