Consultant proposes fixed monthly fee for Michiana Shores accounting services

Craig Martin of accounting firm Baker Tilly told the Michiana Shores Town Council on Jan. 13 that his firm could move the town from time-and-expense billing to a fixed monthly package called BT Plus.

Martin said the proposed package would cover annual financial reporting, budget assistance and routine accounting tasks. "It's around 70 hours for the year, and the fixed fee would be about $1,600 a month," he said, and added the package would include a "10% discount off of standard Baker Tilly fees." Martin also said 2025 billing for the town had been about $25,000.

Council members pressed for more detail. S4 asked for a five-year history of invoices and a breakout of hours; Martin agreed to provide prior-year totals and the firm’s tracked hours and monthly invoices. Council members discussed whether the contract required a formal meeting to approve or could be handled by written consent after members review the materials.

The council did not vote on the BT Plus agreement at the meeting. Instead, members instructed staff to circulate the proposed 2026 agreement and supporting invoices for review and to schedule either a short special meeting or resolve the matter via an email consent after members examine the historical billing data.

If approved, the agreement would allow the fixed fee to be split among town funds as needed, Martin said, and he described a crediting approach if the town uses fewer than the annual hours included in the package.

Next steps: Baker Tilly will provide past invoices and a formal agreement; council members will review and either convene a short special meeting or use an email-based consent to decide.