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08 Appointing Auditor to conduct Independent Annual Audit [8JAction CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REQUEST MEETING DATE: I August 13,2007 D Discussion Dlnformation DRefer to: SUBMITTED BY: I Gene Anderson, Finance Director DESCRIPTION: Proposals to perform the annual independent audit of the City of Paris financial records. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Section 35 of the city charter states that not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the end of the fiscal year the city council will designate the certified public accountants who will perform an independent audit of the city's financial records. The City requested by advertisement in the Paris News proposals by qualified accountants to perform these services. One proposal was received from McClanahan and Holmes, LLP. The estimated cost is $49,500 compared to the 2006 audit which cost $48,150. ' FISCAL AUTHORITY: BUDGETED: Yes Account #: 0605 in all of the departments LEGAL REVIEW: I MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION: R. FRANK RAY, CPA R. E. BOSTWICK, CPA STEVEN W. MOHUNDRO, CPA GEORGE H. STRUVE, CPA ANDREW B. REICH, CPA MCCLANAHAN AND HOLMES, LLP CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS 228 SIXTH STREET, S.E. PARIS, TEXAS 75460 903-784-4316 FAX 903-784-4310 304 WEST CHESTNUT DENISON, TEXAS 75020 903-465-6070 FAX 903-465-6093 1400 WEST RUSSELL BONHAM, TEXAS 75418 903-583-5574 FAX 903-583-9453 Paris, Texas August 7,2007 Honorab]e Mayor and Members of the City Council City of Paris Paris, Texas In response to your request for a proposal for the audit of the financial statements of the City of Paris, Texas (the City), for the year ending September 30, 2007, we shall appreciate your consideration of McClanahan and Holmes, LLP, for the performance of the engagement. This proposal is based on a report format in accordance with the financial reporting described in the GASB Statement No. 34 and information for a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. If engaged, we will audit the financial statements of the City as of and for the year ending September 30,2007. Also, the document we submit to you will include the following additional infornlation that will be subjected to the auditing procedures applied in our audit of the financial statements: combining and individual fund and account group financial statements and schedules; supplemental data; and the schedule of expenditures of federal awards. The document will also include statistical data that will not be subject to the auditing procedures applied in our audit of the financial statements and for which our auditors' report will disclaim an opinion. Audit Objectives The objective of our audit will be the expression of an opllllon about whether your financial statements are fairly presented, in a]1 material respects, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and to report on the fairness of the additional information referred to in the first paragraph when considered in relation to the financial statements taken as a whole. The objective will also include reporting on: AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS City of Paris August 7, 2007 Page 2 Audit Objectives (Continued) Internal control related to the financial statements and compliance with laws, regulations, and the provisions of contracts or grant agreements, noncompliance with which could have a material effect on the financial statements in accordance with Government Auditing Standards. Internal control related to major programs and an opinion (or disclaimer of opinion) on compliance with laws, regulations, and the provisions of contracts or grant agreements that could have a direct and material effect on each major program in accordance with the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 and OMI3 Circular A-133, Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations. The reports on internal control and compliance will each include a statement that the report is intended for the infomlation and use of management, specific legislative or regulatory bodies, federal awarding agencies, and if applicable, pass- through entities and is not intended to be and should not be used by anyone other than these specified paliies. If engaged, our audit will be conducted in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America; the standards for financial audits contained in Government Auditing Standards, issued by the Comptroller General of the United States; the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996; and the provisions of Circular A-133 and will include tests of accounting records, a determination of major program(s) in accordance with Circular A-133, and other procedures we consider necessary to enable us to express such an opinion and to render the required reports. If our opinion on the financial statements or the Single Audit compliance opinion is other than unqualified, we will fully discuss thc reasons with you in advance. I f, for any reason, we are unable to complete the audit or are unable to form or have not formed an opinion, we may decline to express an opinion or to issue a report as a result of the engagement. Management Responsibilities Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining internal control and for compliance with the provisions of contracts, agreements, and grants. In fulfilling this responsibility, estimates and judgments by management arc required to assess the expected benefits and related costs of the controls. The objectives of internal control arc to provide management with reasonable, but not absolute, assurance that assets arc safeguarded against loss from unauthorized use or disposItion, that transactions arc executed in accordance with management's authorizations and recorded properly to permit the preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that federal award programs arc managed in compliance with applicable laws and regulations and the provisions of contracts and grant agreements. Management is responsible for making all financial records and related information available to us. We understand that you will provide us with such information required for our audit and that you are responsible for the accuracy and completeness of that information. We will advise you about appropriate accounting principles and their application and will assist in the preparation of your financial statements, including the schedule of expenditures of federal awards, but the responsibility for the financial statements remains with you. That responsibility includes tbe establishment and maintenance of adequate records and effective internal control over financial reporting and compliance, the selection and application of accounting principles, and the safeguarding of assets. Management is responsible for adjusting the financial statements to cOlTect material misstatements and for confirming to us in the representation letter that the effects of any McCLANAHAN A$.J HOLMES. LLP City of Paris August 7,2007 Page 3 Management Responsibilities (Continued) uncorrected misstatements aggregated by us during the current engagement and pertaining to the latest period presented are immaterial, both individually and in the aggregate, to the financial statements taken as a whole. Additionally, as required by OMB Circular A-133, it is management's responsibility to follow up and take corrective action on reported audit findings and to prepare a summary schedule of prior audit findings and a corrective action plan. Management is also responsible for preparation of management's discussion and analysis. Audit Procedures - General An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements; therefore, our audit will involve judgment about the number of transactions to be examined and the areas to be tested. We will plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable rather than absolute assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether caused by error or fraud. As required by the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 and OMB Circular A-133, our audit will include tests of transactions related to major federal award programs for compliance with applicable laws and regulations and the provisions of contracts and grant agreements. Because an audit is designed to provide reasonable, but not absolute assurance and because we will not perform a detailed examination of all transactions, there is a risk that material errors, fraud, other illegal acts, or noncompliance may exist and not be detected by us. In addition, an audit is not designed to detect immaterial errors, fraud, or other illegal acts or illegal acts that do not have a direct effect on the financial statements or to major programs. However, we will inform the appropriate level of nlanagcll1cnt of any material fraud that comes to our attention. Any fraud that involves senior management or is material to thc financial statcments that comes to our attention will be reported directly to the City Council. We will also inform you of any other illegal acts that come to our attention, unless clearly inconsequential. We will include such matters in the reports required for a Single Audit. Our responsibility as auditors is limited to the period covered by our audit and does not extend to any later periods for which we are not engaged as auditors. Our procedures will include tests of documentary evidence supporting the transactions recorded in the accounts and may include tests of the physical existence of inventories and direct confirmation of receivables and certain other assets and liabilities by correspondence with selected individuals, creditors, and financial institutions. We will request written representations from your attorneys as part of the engagements, and they may bill you for responding to this inquiry. At the conclusion of our audit, we will also request certain written representations from you about the financial statements and related matters. Audit Procedures - Internal Controls If engaged, in planning and performing our audit, we will consider the internal control sufficient to plan the audit in order to determine the nature, timing, and extent of our auditing procedures for the purpose of expressing our opinions on the City's financial statements and on its compliance with requirements applicable to major programs. We will obtain an understanding of the design of the relevant controls and whether they have been placed in operation, and we will assess control risk. Tests of controls may be performed to test the effectiveness of certain controls that we McCLANAHAN AND HOLMES, LLP City of Paris August 7,2007 Pagc 4 Aucht Procedures - Internal Controls (Continued) consider relevant to prevcnting and dctecting errors and fraud that are material to the financial statements and to preventing and detecting misstatements resulting from illegal acts and other noncompliance matters that have a direct and matcrial effect on the financial statements. Tests of controls rclative to the financial statements are required only if control risk is asscssed below the maximum level. Our tests, if performed, will be less in scope than would be necessary to render an opinion on internal control and, accordingly, no opinion will be expressed in our report on internal control issued pursuant to Government Auditing Standards. As requircd by OMf3 Circular A-133, wc will perform tcsts of controls to evaluate the cffectiveness of the design and operation of controls that we consider relevant to prevcnting or detecting material noncompliance with compliance requiremcnts applicable to each major federal award program. However, our tests will be less in scope than would be neccssary to render an opinion on those controls and, accordingly, no opinion will be expressed in our report on internal control issued pursuant to OMB Circular A-133. An audit is not dcsigned to provide assurance on internal control or to identify reportable conditions. However, we will inform you of any matters involving internal control and its operation that we consider to be reportable conditions under standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Reportable conditions involve matters coming to our attention relating to significant deficiencies in the design or operation of the internal control that, in our judgmcnt, could adverscly affcct the entity's ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial data consistent with the assertions of administration in the financial statements. We will also infornl you of any nonreportable conditions or othcr matters involving intcrnal control, if any, as requircd by OMB Circular A-133. Audit Procedures - Compliance I f engaged, our audit will be conducted in accordance with the standards refened to in the section titled Audit Objectives. As part of obtaining reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, we will perform tests of the City's compliance with applicable laws and regulations and the provisions of contracts and agreements, including grant agreements. However, the objective of those procedures will not be to provide an opinion on ovcrall compliance and we will not express such an opinion in our report on compliance issued pursuant to Government Auditing Standards. OMB Circular A-133 requires that we also plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the City has complied with applicable laws and regulations and the provisions of contracts and grant agreements applicable to maJor programs. Our procedures will consist of the applicable procedures described in the OMB Circular A-133 Compliance Supplemcnt for the types of compliance requirements that could have a direct and material effect on each of the City's major programs. The purpose of those procedures will be to express an opinion on the City's compliance with requirements applicable to each of its major programs in our report on compliance issued pursuant to OMB Circular A- 133. Audit Administration, Fees, and Other W c encourage our clients to adopt the procedure of having their personnel prepare working papers and analyses for use McCLANAHAN AND HOLMES, LLP City of Paris August 7,2007 Page 5 Audit Administration, Fees, and Other (Continued) during the audit in order to minimize the clerical activities of our professional staff and resulting added cost. If engaged, a list of workpapers will be furnished which can be prepared by your personnel prior to the final field work. At the conclusion of the engagement, we will complete the appropriate sections of and sign the Data Collection Foml that summarizes our audit findings. We will provide copies of our reports to the City; however, it is management's responsi- bility to submit the reporting package (including financial statements, schedule of expenditures of federal awards, summary schedule of prior audit findings, auditors' reports, and a corrective action plan) along with the Data Collection Form to the designated federal clearinghouse and, if appropriate, to pass-through entities. The Data Collection Form and the reporting package must be submitted within the earlier of 30 days after receipt of the auditors' reports or nine months after the end of the audit period, unless a longer period is agreed to in advance by the cognizant or oversight agency for audit. At the conclusion of the engagement, we will provide information to management as to where the reporting packages should be submitted and the number to submit. The workpapers for this engagement are the property of McClanahan and Holmes, LLP, and will constitute confidential information. However, pursuant to authority given by law or regulation, we may be requested to make certain workpapers available to a federal or state agency providing direct or indirect funding, or the United States General Accounting Office for purposes of a quality review of the audit, to resolve audit findings, or to carry out oversight responsibilities. We will notify you of any such requests. If requested, access to such workpapers will be provided under the supervision of McClanahan and Holmes, LLP personnel. Furthermore, upon request, we may provide photocopies of selected workpapers to the aforementioned parties. These parties may intend, or decide, to distribute the photocopies or information contained therein to others, including other governmental agencies. The workpapers for this engagement will be retained for a minimum of five years after the date the auditors' report is issued or for any additional period requested by the cognizant or oversight agency for audit or pass-through entity. If we arc aware that a federal awarding agency, pass-through entity, or auditee is contesting an audit finding, we will contact the party(ies) contesting the audit finding for guidance prior to destroying the workpapers. McClanahan and Holmes, LLP originated from the public accounting practice opened in Paris in 1952 by Mr. F. 1. McClanahan. The firm has grown to a five partner limited liability partnership with operating offices in Paris, Bonham, and Denison. Our firm consists of twelve certified public accountants, three professional personnel, and several para- professionals and clerical personnel who have extensive experience. Attachments list current clients for which we provide similar audit services and provide the education and experience of professional audit personnel most likely to be assigned to the audit. Based on our understanding of the audit work required and our evaluation of your books and records, we would estimate that the fee for the engagement would not exceed $49,500 plus out-of-pocket expenses (such as report reproduction costs, postage, ete). As competitive bidding by licensed certified public accountants is not permitted by state law, this is considered a fee estimate and as such, we will not be bound to provide the proposed services for the estimated amount. Our estimated fee for these services is based on the following rates and estimated hours of professional time. It should be noted that this fee is an estimate and the actual fee billed will be based on our standard billing rates and the number of hours necessary to complete the required scope of work. McCLANAHAN AND HOLMES, LLP City of Paris August 7, 2007 Page 6 Audit Administr<ition, Fees, and Other (Continued) Position Rate Partner $ 160 In-Charge $ 100 Staff $76 - 100 Clerical $ 40 Total Hours 24 250 480 --.lQQ ~~~.1 I f the City requests additional work or services not within the general scope of this proposal, that work would be billed at our normal rates. Requests for additional work or services beyond the general scope of this proposal must be made in writing before the beginning of field work, and appropriate rates would be negotiated. If engaged, we expect our preliminary work to begin prior to year end and our final field work to begin shortly after your records are closed out for the year. We will make every effort to deliver our report in time to comply with bond and other reporting requirements, and will bill for the entire engagement after the report is delivered. We will provide as many copies of the report as needed. Government Auditing Standards require that we provide you with a copy of our most recent quality control review report, which accompanies this letter. Should YOII want additional information or should you want us to appear before the City Council, please let us know. If you agree with the terms of the engagement as described in this proposal, please sign the second copy and return it to us. (l1~Cla~1(ttUf-Li (h~/ )/~tiA_1-) / LLjJ McClanahan and Holmes, LLP Certified Public Accountants RESPONSE: This letter correctly sets forth the understanding of the City of Paris, Texas. By: Signature Title: Date: McCLANAHAN AND HOLMES, LLP City of Paris August 7,2007 Supplemental Information Following is a brief resume of our professional personnel most likely to be assigned to the engagement. All Certified Public Accountants in the firm are members of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the Dallas Chapter of the TSCP A. The firm is also a member of the Texas Managcment Group, a consortium of public accounting firms organized for the purpose of sharing expertise and ideas with like-minded firms. Andrew B. Reich graduated from East Central Oklahoma State University (B.S.-Accounting 1985). He was employed by the firm in 1985, received his certificate in 1990, and became a partner in 1992. He practices primarily in the audit area of our firm and has several years of governmental audit experience. Andy would servc as engagement partner for this audit. Thomas Hensel graduated from Midwestern University (B.B.A.-Accounting 1966). He received his certificate in 1969, was employed by the fillll in 1976, and was an officer from 1979 through 1996. From 1966 until 1976 he was employed by Peat, Marwick, Mitchell, & Co., Certified Public Accountants, in their Fort Worth and Austin offices in the audit area. He practices primarily in the audit area of the firm and has significant experience in governmental auditing, including formerly serving as engagement partner on the majority of our governmental audits. Tom would continue to serve as in-charge auditor for this audit. Elaine Wroten graduated from Baylor University (B.B.A.-Aecounting 1979). She received her certificate in 1981 and was employed by the firm in 1998. From 1979 through 1994 she was employed by other certified public accountants, and she worked in private industry from 1994 to 1998. Rebecca L. Sikes graduated from Texas A & M University - Commerce (B.B.A.-Accounting 2000, M.B.A.- 2002). She was employed by the firm from 2000 through 2005, and she worked in private industry during the first half of 2006. She was re-employed by the firm in August 2006. Eric S. Teague, native of Borger, Texas, graduated from Texas Christian University (B.B.A, - Accounting 1995) and was employed by the firm in 2006. From 1995 through 2004, he was employed by Weaver and Tidwell, LLP as an auditor in the Fort Worth office. He worked in private industry from 2004 through 2005. McCLANAHAN AND HOLMES, LLP City of Paris August 7, 2007 Supplemental Information We currently provide auditing services for the following governmental entities. 130nham Independent School District Paris Junior College City of l3ailey City of Bonham City of Denison City of Detroit City of Dodd City City of Honey Grove City of Leonard City of Savoy City of Trenton Bois d' Arc Municipal Utility District Lamar County Water Supply District Southwest Fannin Special Utility District Other audit clients include financial institutions, manufacturing companies, cooperatives, escrow funds of title companies, non-profit organizations, and other types of entities. McCLANAHAN AND HOLMES. LLP (U First Financial Bank Building 400 Pine Street, Suite 600 Abilene, Texas 79601-5128 Office (325) 672-4000 FAX (325) 672-7049 1-800-588-2525 Davis, Kinard & Co., P.C. Certified Public Accountants August 18, 2006 To the Shareholders McClanahan and Holmes, LLP We have reviewed the system of quality control for the accounting and auditing practice of McClanahan and Holmes, LLP (the firm) in effect for the year ended March 31, 2006. A system of quality control encompasses the firm's organizational structure, the policies adopted and procedures established to provide it with reasonable assurance of conforming with professional standards. The elements of quality control are described in the statements on Quality Control Standards issued by the American Institute of CP As (AICP A). The firm is responsible for designing a system of quality control and complying with it to provide the firm reasonable assurance of conforming with professional standards in all material respects. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the design of the system of quality control and the firm's compliance with its system of quality control based on our review. Our review was conducted in accordance with standards established by the Peer Review Board of the AICP A. During our review, we read required representations from the firm, interviewed firm personnel and obtained an understanding of the nature of the firm's accounting and auditing practice, and the design of the firm's system of quality control sufficient to assess the risks implicit in its practice. Based on our assessments, we selected engagements and administrative files to test for confonnity with professional standards and compliance with the firm's system of quality control. The engagements selected represented a reasonable cross-section of the firm's accounting and auditing practice with emphasis on higher-risk engagements. The engagements selected included among others, audits of Employee Benefit Plans and engagements performed under Government Auditing Standards. Prior to concluding the review, we reassessed the adequacy of the scope of the peer review procedures and met with firm management to discuss the results of our review. We believe that the procedures we performed provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In performing our review, we obtained an understanding of the system of quality control for the firm's accounting and auditing practice. In addition, we tested compliance with the firm's quality control policies and procedures to the extent we considered appropriate. These tests covered the application of the firm's policies and procedures on selected engagements. Our review was based on selected tests therefore it would not necessarily detect all weaknesses in the system of quality control or all instances of noncompliance with it. There are inherent limitations in the effectiveness of any system of quality control and therefore noncompliance with the system of quality control may occur and not be detected. Projection of any evaluation of a system of quality control to future periods is subject to the risk that the system of quality control may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or because the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. In our OpInIOn, the system of quality control for the accounting and auditing practice of McClanahan and Holmes, LLP in effect for the year ended March 31, 2006 has been designed to meet the requirements of the quality control standards for an accounting and auditing practice established by the AICP A and was complied with during the year then ended to provide the firm with reasonable assurance of conforming with professional standards. j)~ K..~ 60,/ (>. c... . DAVIS, KINARD & CO., P.c.