Town audit RFP draws single proposal; resident questions lower regional bids

The Town of Canaan Board of Finance said it received a single proposal — from King, King & Associates — in response to the request for proposals for the fiscal-year 2026–2029 audit engagement and will review that submission at the board's next meeting. The board noted auditors are expected to present their work in March as the town awaits the pension report and several Board of Education items needed for final reconciliation.

A resident speaking during public comment compared auditing prices and said Sinnamon & Associates' three-year bid in nearby North Canaan was $35,000 with no increases and about $17,000 less than King, King’s submitted figures in that other town. The resident asked the Board to contact Sinnamon to understand why it did not submit a proposal for Falls Village. The Board acknowledged the concern and said it would follow up on procurement questions before taking a final vote on the engagement.

Board members stressed that the audit timeline had been extended through January and February to allow auditors to reconcile outstanding timing items. The Treasurer told the board the outstanding items include standard timing differences and pension reporting that must be incorporated into the final audit, and that the auditors will reconcile fiscal-year placement for items flagged during public comment.

The motion chart attached to the meeting minutes records the procedural steps: the Board will review the single proposal at its next meeting and vote on an award at that time. No final procurement decision or contract award was recorded at the Feb. 17 meeting.