Council OKs audit contract with Armstrong Vaughn, adds rotation requirement

Bulverde City Council voted to authorize the city manager to negotiate and execute an agreement with Armstrong Vaughn and Associates for annual independent audit services, while requiring the firm to rotate the audit team.

Staff presented the competitive RFP process, saying, "Staff would recommend that the city council award the contract for the annual independent audit services to Armstrong Vaughn and Associates, PC," and explained the two top proposals were close in score. Council members pressed auditors’ scope and past work, noting previous bank-reconciliation and software-transition discrepancies that required months of cleanup. One council member warned, "I just don't want any bumps in the auditing process because the state legislature, there's high risk now involving, like, getting your audit finished." The motion to authorize the city manager to finalize the agreement with Armstrong Vaughn — and to include a rotation of the auditing team — passed and the council moved on to the next item.

Why it matters: The audit contract determines the independent verification of the city's financial statements and system controls. Council sought a balance between retaining an auditor familiar with local history and inserting fresh reviewers to catch recurring problems. Staff said the audit is financial (not forensic) in scope but can surface recommendations such as adopting purchase-order controls.

What's next: The city manager will negotiate contract details and bring final documents for execution; council suggested contract language that would allow changes in audit staffing and require clear deliverables from the audit team.