Audit committee approves external peer reviewer and $15,000 fee for 2026 review

The Tulare County Audit Committee voted unanimously April 9 to approve the audit division’s recommended external peer reviewer and the proposed fee of $15,000 for the 2026 quality assessment.

Chief Katie K. Meyer told the committee the peer review is required under the new standards (external quality assessment at least every five years) and recommended a reviewer who had performed the county’s last review. In the presentation the reviewer was named as "Michael Edmonds" and later referenced as "Mike Emmons." Meyer said the review would begin around October 2026 and typically conclude by December, with the reviewer presenting the final report to the committee.

The committee moved, seconded and unanimously approved the selection and proposed fee. Meyer said the review will also help the division address areas of partial conformance identified in its gap analysis.