Auditor Selection Committee 7/13/2026

The City of Punta Gorda's Auditor Selection Committee met on July 13, 2026, to discuss the process for selecting an audit services firm. The committee focused on establishing evaluation criteria for the Request for Proposal (RFP), including personnel qualifications, technical approach, corporate experience, references, and pricing proposals. They reviewed timelines aiming to issue the RFP by the end of July with a 21-day solicitation period, ranking proposals by mid-September, and recommending a firm to the city council by early October. The committee also discussed the possibility of presentations by bidders, the need for a single audit due to federal and state funding, and the importance of adhering to state statutes and government accounting standards. Procurement staff offered to draft the RFP document incorporating the committee's input and boilerplate language, with plans for multiple meetings to finalize the scope and evaluation criteria. The current audit budget was noted at approximately $62,750 for fiscal year 2027. The committee emphasized the importance of thoroughness over speed despite a tight schedule and planned additional meetings to complete the RFP development.