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Trustees dispute auditor’s extra‑work request and press for final bound copies
Summary
Trustees told staff they did not authorize additional forensic‑audit work billed at $225/hour and complained they still have not received the 12 bound final audit copies promised; staff was directed to contact the auditor and not approve extra fees pending clarification.
A disagreement over audit deliverables and an auditor’s request for additional work dominated a segment of the Manteno general government meeting on June 30.
Chris informed the board he had forwarded an email from the audit firm saying someone from the village had requested additional work that would be billed at $225 per hour. Trustees said they had not asked for extra work and questioned why the firm was requesting additional authorization. Several trustees said the contract—$168,000 as discussed during the engagement—should cover delivery of final materials, including the 12 bound copies the board expected.
One trustee told colleagues the firm had promised 12 bound final reports and that staff and trustees had repeatedly requested them; the trustee characterized the auditor’s follow‑up questions as unnecessary and said they would contact the firm. Another trustee raised concerns about redactions and file content for posting online, noting signatures must be redacted before uploading to the village website to prevent misuse.
Board members expressed frustration about the timeline and completeness of the deliverables. A trustee said the village had provided auditors full access to records and that delays were likely due to the firm’s scheduling during tax season; others questioned whether the village had properly vetted bidders at the time of award.
The board did not approve any additional payments at the meeting. Instead, trustees directed staff to contact the auditor for clarification, to obtain the promised printed copies and to confirm that the redacted final report will be suitable for public posting without signatures.
The matter remains open pending staff contact with the auditor and resolution of the outstanding deliverables and any additional‑work requests.
