Carlisle County explores hiring outside auditors as state steps in to clear backlog

The Carlisle County meeting included a debate over how to clear a multi-year backlog of audits, and commissioners voted to give an outside firm a year-to-year trial while the state performs mandated reviews.

A committee member raised the prospect of contracting with Patrick and Associates, an audit firm based in Louisville, and said, “Roughly with Patrick and Associates, it would be around 27,000.” The board discussed that the state will also be conducting audits to “catch us up” and that any outside work must align with the state’s schedule.

Why it matters: the county has several fiscal years pending state approval. Using an outside auditor could speed up local completion but would cost more than prior vendors. Commissioners said the state has offered to begin catching up the county’s audit obligations, and a short-term outside contract is seen as a practical way to ensure the current fiscal year is reviewed promptly.

Details: Commissioners noted Romine (the prior provider) was multiple years behind and that Patrick and Associates proposed to focus on the county audit to complete it quickly, perhaps in no more than two days onsite for specific work. The outside engagement was described as annual and nonbinding: “year to year,” the committee member said, and commissioners agreed the state could still intercede.

What the board decided: a motion to move forward was made and seconded; commissioners voted in favor. Several members emphasized the need to have the state finalize its review and that the county would give Patrick and Associates an opportunity to handle the next audit cycle if the state schedule allowed.

Next steps: staff will coordinate with the state and the proposed outside firm to clarify the exact scope and timing, and the county will return with a final contracting recommendation if needed.