Baldwin leaders picked Mauldin & Jenkins Certified Public Accountants, LLC for their 2015 audit. The Atlanta firm is tasked with going through the city’s finances and reporting any discrepancies or procedural errors that might cost Baldwin taxpayers money. “It’s real important to pick the right auditor,” Mayor Jerry Neace says. “We got a list of auditors that placed a bid and I feel that any one of them could do the job.”
In past years, the city used Bates, Carter & Company (BC&C) for the work but an ongoing dispute over invoices doesn’t sit well with members of city council, “I just have an issue with them right now due to the billing questions and it might be time for a change,” says Post 4 Councilman Jeff Parrish. BC&C’s bid of $20,000 was the third highest of eight submitted.
Neace says, despite the current issue with BC&C, “Nobody did anything wrong. It’s a new council, a new era. We’re going through a transition where we’re trying new people. That’s why we changed auditors.”
Parrish recommended Mauldin & Jenkins based on their $17,000 bid (second lowest) and their experience, “As much as I hate to go out of the area,” he says, “they have 300 audits for local governments in their proposal with 95 years of experience.” The firm will also give Baldwin ongoing updates, advice and continuing education classes for free.
There was a brief discussion about going with the lowest bid of $14,000 from Duncan and Kitchens CPAs in Clarkesville. Post 3 Councilman Joe Elam supported the local firm, “He is the cheapest on the list and provides quite a bit support in that cost.” Their proposal touted work for 5 local governments and 11 years of experience.
In choosing not to go with Duncan and Kitchens, council members cited the company’s lack of experience compared to Mauldin & Jenkins and their association with the ongoing investigation into financial irregularities with the City of Demorest. “No disparaging on them,” Parrish is quick to add. “I’m sure they’re a fine firm.” Mayor Neace agrees, “I think there was more to it ( in Demorest) than the auditor.”
The annual audit is important to Baldwin mainly because in past years, the city’s finances were a bit of a mess with expenses outstripping revenue and poor accounting. The 2014 audit showed the town is back in the black financially with a reserve fund of $536,804.
Featured Image: Charts prepared by Baldwin Mayor Jerry Neace showing (top) deficit spending through 2009 with a return to fiscal solvency during the past 5 years and (bottom) Baldwin’s fund balance goes from a deficit to a surplus after 2008.
