Item T11
~
Meeting Date
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Agenda Item Summary
November 19, 2003
Division
County Attorney
AGENDA ITEM WORDING
Approval of contract with Cherry, Bekaert & Holland to provide professional auditing
services.
ITEM BACKGROUND
Monroe County, Florida Audit Selection Committee, in accordance with Section 218.391,
Florida Statutes, has followed the statutory procedures, including public notice, and ranked
the Auditor as the top firm and deemed it most qualified to provide professional auditing
services.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC AcnON
CONTRACT I AGREEMENT CHANGES
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS
TOTAL COST
BUDGETED Yes No
COST TO COUNTY
SOURCE OF FUNDS
APPROVED BY:
County Attorney _ OMB/Purchasing 0 Risk Management 0
DIVISIDN DIRECTOR APPROVAL~o.JL ~ II \ \ '1\ ID l;.
JOHN R. COLUNS
DOCUMENTATION:
Included 0
To Follow 0
Not Required 0
AGENDA ITEM #
/7/
COUNTY OF MONROE, FLORIDA
AUDIT CONTRACT
This CONTRACT is made and entered into this day of ,2003, by
and between the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County (hereinafter "COUNTY"),
Florida, and CHERRY, BEKAERT & HOLLAND, L.L.P. (hereinafter "AUDITOR"), a Certified
Public Accountant limited partnership licensed to do business in the State of Florida.
WHEREAS, the Monroe County, Florida Audit Selection Committee, in accordance with Section
218.391, Florida Statutes, has followed the statutory procedures, including public notice, and
ranked the Auditor as the top firm and deemed it most qualified to provide professional auditing
services; and
WHEREAS, terms satisfactory to both parties have been negotiated pursuant to said statute; now
therefore
In consideration of the mutual promises and covenants below, the parties agree:
1. SCOPE OF SERVICES.
Auditor shall provide a fmancial audit of the COUNTY fmancial records and a financial audit
report as required by Florida Statutes 218.391. Such audit shall be subject to the limitations and
responsibilities identified in Attachment A to this contract. In addition, such audit shall be
conducted in accordance with U.S. generally accepted auditing standards as promulgated by the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Industry Audit Guide, Audits for
State and Local Government Units, AICPA standards and procedures, the Florida Single Audit
Act, OMB Circular A-B3, and, excluding review of economy and efficiency of operations and
program results, standards and procedures set forth in Government Auditing Standards issued by
the Comptroller General of the United States. The AUDITOR will also conduct the audit in
accordance with any other applicable federal, state and local regulations or professional guidance
not specifically listed previously as well as any additional requirements that may be adopted by
these organizations in the future. This audit includes the financial records concerning the
operations of the COUNTY as a whole, each Constitutional Officer, and any dependent district
reported as part of the primary government (blended component unit). Audits of financial
statements of discrete component units, either currently in existence or established subsequently
to the beginning date of this Agreement, are excluded from this Agreement. It is possible that
additional "funds" or blended component units will be established by the COUNTY during the
term of this Agreement. The compensation stated in this Agreement will include the audit
procedures related to such additional funds or component units unless it is agreed by the
COUNTY and AUDITOR that they significantly and materially impact the audit.
1.1. AUDITOR shall provide the work plan and services as described in detail in the
Request for Qualifications, attached hereto and incorporated herein. The AUDITOR, prior to
commencing any fiscal year audit, will provide a detailed audit plan, related fee (to equal the
total amount of the Agreement as noted in Section 4), and proposed time line for each of the
COUNTY entities to be audited. The time-related obligations shall be conditioned upon
AUDITOR's receipt of necessary County and Constitutional Officer data (including confirmation
requests and consultant's reports) in useable form, access to knowledgeable County and
Constitutional Officer personnel, and other timely cooperation by COUNTY and the
Constitutional Officers. AUDITOR shall conduct an exit interview with each of the
Constitutional Officers and dependent district executive officers prior to the issuance of final
reports.
1.2. The financial audit reports applicable to each of the entities described in paragraph
1, as required by F.S. 218.391 and Section 10.550 of the Rules of the Auditor General, shall
include the following:
1.2.1. Auditor's Report on Examination of Financial Statements. This report
shall include but not be limited to:
(a) A statement of the scope of the audit; and
(b) Explanatory comments (if any) concerning exceptions by AUDITOR as to
application of either U.S. generally accepted auditing standards, U.S. generally accepted
accounting principles or the consistency of application of such principles.
1.2.2. Financial Statements. Financial presentations shall include but not be
limited to a balance sheet, statement of revenues and expenditures, or other statements of
presentation of financial data, including accompanying footnotes and schedules, derived from the
accounting records presented in conformity with the fund type, fund and/or group classifications
as required for compliance with Section 10.550 of the Auditor General.
1.2.3. Auditor's Letter of Comments and Recommendations. A letter shall be
provided to COUNTY containing various comments and recommendations by the AUDITOR
based upon review of the COUNTY's system of operations, internal controls and other findings
and requirements by the Florida Auditor General. Similar letters shall be submitted to each of the
County Constitutional Officers and dependent district.
1.2.4. Other Reports. Reports shall include reports required by Government
Auditing Standards; and the State of Florida. If applicable, reports issued pursuant to the Federal
and State of Florida Single Audit Acts shall be included.
1.3. It is recognized that one of the primary purposes of the audit is to be able to
provide assurances to state and federal funding agencies. If any of those agencies require an
opinion in a style or format different than the AUDITOR's standard style or format, the
AUDITOR shall reissue the opinion in a style or format acceptable to the funding agency.
1.4 AUDITOR shall prepare and submit to the Board of County Commissioners a
letter regarding the COUNTY's compliance with the terms of its various bond issues. The
COUNTY may prepare official statements in connection with the issuance of debt securities that
will contain the basic fmancial statements and the AUDITOR's report thereon. The AUDITOR
shall be notified by COUNTY in advance of any such securities offering and will, if requested by
the fiscal advisor and/or the underwriter, issue a "consent and citation of expertise" as the
AUDITOR and any necessary "comfort letters." Such services will be compensated at the rates
specified in Section 4.
1.5 The AUDITOR agrees to provide tuition free access to seminars provided for
either staff or staff and client use in an effort to assist the County in maintaining staff
professionalism and meeting the County staff's continuing professional education requirements.
1.6 Should irregularities or other unforeseeable conditions be encountered which
might necessitate the extension of the auditing work beyond the scope of normal auditing
procedures, the AUDITOR agrees to advise the COUNTY in writing of the circumstances and to
request an increase in the total fees be made before significant additional costs are incurred. Any
request for additional time or additional fees shall be in writing and shall contain a detailed
explanation of the unforeseen conditions or irregularities, and why the additional fees are
necessary. Either a time extension or additional fees granted to AUDITOR is at the sole
discretion of COUNTY.
1.7 AUDITOR shall take reasonable steps to bring errors to the attention of an
appropriate level of COUNTY management so that management can take corrective action. Any
adjustments to the books and records will be made only after review and only on direction of
responsible authority.
1.8 The COUNTY will send its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR)
to the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for review in its
Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Program. Therefore, the
COUNTY shall also provide additional financial and non-fmancial information not subject to
examination by the AUDITOR, but necessary for the reporting standards of such Certificate of
Achievement. It is expected that the AUDITOR will provide any special assistance reasonably
necessary to assist the COUNTY in continuing to meet the requirements of that program as part
of the fixed fee compensation of this Agreement.
2. ASSISTANCE TO BE FURNISHED BY THE COUNTY.
It is understood and agreed that COUNTY and Constitutional Officers' staff participation in the
audit will be limited to activities within the normal course of business, and any assistance with
the audit by COUNTY personnel shall be limited to matters within the normal scope of the
employees' work responsibility.
The COUNTY will prepare and furnish to the AUDITOR certain workpapers required to support
the fmancial information under audit, but they will be in the format designed by the COUNTY,
3. TERM OF ENGAGEMENT.
This Agreement provides for professional auditing services for the fiscal years ending September
30, 2003, 2004, and 2005, with the option of renewing for two (2) subsequent fiscal years. This
agreement shall come into effect on the date fIrst written above and remain in effect until the
completion of the 2005 fmancial audit unless earlier terminated in accordance with paragraphs 12
and 13, below.
4. COMPENSATION AND TERMS OF PAYMENT.
The COUNTY shall pay to the AUDITOR a fixed fee for the annual audit of the COUNTY's
financial statements according to the following fee schedule. This fee is all-inclusive, and no
charge for travel, telephone bills, copying or any other related fees or expenses shall be billed.
Payment under this agreement is contingent upon annual appropriation.
FISCAL YEAR ENDED
CONTRACT AMOUNT
September 30, 2003
$178,000
$183,340
$188,840
September 30, 2004
September 30, 2005
The following hourly fees shall apply to extra work done for the term of this contract by
AUDITOR, whether under this Agreement or for extra work requested by the Board of County
Commissioners:
Partner in Charge $ 200
Senior Manager $ 150
Manager $ 130
Senior Accountant $ ll5
Staff Accountant $ 80
Clerical $ 50
Fees for the optional years' extension of this Agreement shall be negotiated when the option is
exercised.
Termination prior to the end of the agreement or any extended year shall occur whenever funds
cannot be obtained or cannot be continued at a level sufficient to allow for the continuation of this
agreement pursuant to the terms herein. In the event that funds cannot be continued at a level
sufficient to allow the continuation of this agreement pursuant to the terms specified herein, this
agreement may then be terminated immediately by written notice of termination delivered in
person or by mail to AUDITOR.
An invoice for the portion of the total amount of the Agreement in proportion to the work
completed to date shall be submitted to the COUNTY on a monthly basis. The invoice will
include a description of work completed for each of the COUNTY entities to be audited, the total
amount of the agreement, billings to date and payments to date. The invoices shall be in a form
approved by the Clerk of the Circuit Court. The maximum amount to be paid prior to fulfillment
of the terms of the Agreement shall be ninety (90) percent of the total annual compensation. The
retainage will be payable upon completion of each year's audits.
5. RECORDS.
All working papers and reports will be retained by the AUDITOR, at the AUDITOR's
expense, for a minimum of five years from the date the reports are issued, or such
longer period as may be required to satisfy legal and administrative requirements. The
Auditor will be required to make the working papers available, upon request, to the
following parties or their designees:
A. COUNTY
B. Auditor General of the State of Florida
C. U.S. General Accounting Office
D. Parties designated by the federal government, the State of Florida, or by the COUNTY as
part of an audit quality review program
E. Auditors of entities of which the County is a subreceipient of grant funds
F. Successor auditors
G. Other parties as deemed necessary by the COUNTY, subject to AUDITOR agreement
H. Other parties entitled by law to access such papers
6. MODIFICATIONS. AMENDMENTS. ASSIGNMENT AND
SUBCONTRACTING.
Any and all modifications of the terms of this agreement shall be only amended in writing and
approved by the Board of County Commissioners for Monroe County. The Contractor shall not
assign or subcontract or transfer any interest in this Contract or assign any claims for money due
or to become due under this Contract without first obtaining written and executed consent from
COUNTY.
7. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR.
At all times and for all purposes hereunder, the AUDITOR is an independent contractor and not
an employee of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County. No statement contained
in this agreement shall be construed as to find the AUDITOR or any of its employees,
contractors, servants or agents to be the employees of the Board of County Commissioners of
Monroe County, and they shall not be entitled to any of the rights, privileges or benefits of
employees of Monroe County.
8. COMPLIANCE WITH LAW.
In canying out its obligations under this agreement, the AUDITOR shall abide by all statutes,
ordinances, rules and regulations pertaining to or regulating the provisions of this agreement,
including those now in effect and hereafter adopted. Any violation of said statutes, ordinances,
rules or regulations may constitute a material breach of this agreement, which would entitle the
county to terminate this agreement immediately upon delivery of written notice of termination to
the AUDITOR.
9. HOLD HARMLESSlINDEMNIFICATION.
Each party ("Indemnifying Party") shall indemnify and hold harmless the other ("Indemnified
Party") from any and all claims, suits, actions, liabilities and reasonable defense costs, in each
case solely for bodily injury to individuals and physical damage to tangible property to the extent
directly and proximately caused by the acts or omissions of the Indemnifying Party while
AUDITOR is engaged in the performance of services under this Agreement; provided, however,
that if there is also fault on the part of the Indemnified Party, the foregoing indemnity shall be on
a comparative fault basis, and provided that COUNTY's liability is limited to the statutory
limitation in Florida Statutes 768.28.
10. ANTI-DISCRIMINATION.
The AUDITOR agrees that they will not discriminate against any of their employees or applicants
for employment or against persons for any benefit or service because of their race, color, religion,
sex. national origin, or physical or mental handicap where the handicap does not affect the ability
of an individual to perform in a position of employment, and to abide by all federal and state laws
regarding non-discrimination.
11. ANTI-KICKBACK.
The AUDITOR warrants that no person has been employed or retained to solicit or secure this
agreement upon an agreement or understanding for a commission, percentage, brokerage or
contingent fee, and that no employee or officer of the COUNTY has any interest, fmanciaIly or
otherwise, in the said funded project. For breach or violation of this warranty, the COUNTY
shall have the right to annul this agreement without liability or, in its discretion, to deduct from
the agreement price or consideration, the full amount of such commission, percentage, brokerage
or contingent fee.
12. TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE.
This Agreement may be terminated, without cause, by either of the parties. For each fiscal year
to be audited, written notice to the other party not later than June I of the fiscal year to be audited
will constitute appropriate cancellation of the Agreement.
13. TERMINATION FOR BREACH.
If the AUDITOR breaches any provision of this Agreement, the COUNTY shall notify the
AUDITOR in writing within fourteen (14) days or some other time period deemed acceptable to
the COUNTY to cure this breach. The COUNTY by failure to provide notice to the AUDITOR
or accepting work under this Agreement does not waive or limit its authority to find the
AUDITOR in breach of this agreement for subsequent breaches. After notification of breach and
the Agreement has been terminated, the COUNTY shall pay the AUDITOR fair and equitable
compensation for work completed prior to termination of the agreement, less any amount of
damages caused by the AUDITOR's breach. If the damages are more than compensation due to
the AUDITOR, the AUDITOR will remain liable after termination and the COUNTY can
affirmatively collect damages.
The AUDITOR may terminate the Agreement for failure of the COUNTY to fulfill its duties and
obligations upon giving the COUNTY sixty (60) days prior written notice.
14. ENTIRE AGREEMENT.
The COUNTY Audit Selection Committee Request for Qualification for Professional Auditing
Services dated August 25, 2003, and AUDITOR Proposal to Provide Independent Audit Services
for the Years Ending September 30, 2003 to 2005, and this Agreement constitute the entire
agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supercedes any and
all prior agreements with respect to such subject matter between the AUDITOR and COUNTY.
It is understood and agreed that in the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and
the terms of the above stated documents, the terms of the Agreement shall control.
15. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION.
This agreement, its performance, and all disputes arising hereunder, shall be governed by the laws
of the State of Florida, and both parties agree that the proper venue for any actions shall be in
Monroe County.
16. ETHICS CLAUSE.
AUDITOR warrants that AUDITOR has not employed, retained or otherwise had act on
AUDITOR's behalf any former County officer or employee in violation of Section 2 or
Ordinance No. 10-1990 or any County officer or employee in violation of Section 3 of Ordinance
No. 10-1990. For breach or violation of the provision the COUNTY may, at its discretion,
terminate this agreement without liability and may also, at its discretion, deduct from the
agreement or otherwise recover, the full amount of any fee, commission, percentage, gift, or
consideration paid to the former or present County officer or employee.
17. PUBUC ENTITY CRIME STATEMENT.
A person or affiliate who has been placed on the convicted vendor list following a conviction for
public entity crime may not submit a bid on an agreement to provide any goods or services to a
public entity, may not submit a bid on an agreement with a public entity for the construction or
repair of a public building or public work, may not submit bids on leases of real property to
public entity, may not be awarded or perform work as a contractor, supplier, sub-contractor, or
consultant under a agreement with any public entity, and may not transact business with any
public entity in excess of the threshold amount provided in Section 287.017, for CATEGORY
TWO for a period of 36 months from the date of being placed on the convicted vendor list.
AUDITOR represents that AUDITOR has not been placed on the convicted vendor list.
18. AUTHORITY.
AUDITOR warrants that it is authorized by law to engage in the performance of the activities
encompassed by the project herein described.
Each of the signatories for the AUDITOR below certifies and warrants that the AUDITOR's
name in this agreement is the full name as designated in its organizing documents; that they are
empowered to act and contract for the AUDITOR, and this agreement has been approved by the
legal governing body of AUDITOR.
19. LICENSES.
AUDITOR warrants that it shall have, prior to commencement of work under this agreement and
at all times during said work, all required licenses whether federal, state, COUNTY or City.
20. INSURANCE.
AUDITOR agrees that it maintains in force at its own expense a liability insurance policy which
will insure and indemnify the AUDITOR and the COUNTY from any suits, claims or actions
brought by any person or persons and from all costs and expenses of litigation brought against the
AUDITOR for such injuries to persons or damage to property occurring during the agreement or
thereafter that results from performance by AUDITOR of the obligations set forth in this
agreement. At all times during the term of this agreement and for one year after acceptance of the
project, AUDITOR shall maintain on file with the COUNTY a certificate of the insurance of the
carriers showing that the aforesaid insurance policy is in effect. The following coverage shall be
provided:
I. Workers Compensation insurance as required by Florida Statutes.
2. Commercial General Liability Insurance with minimum limits of $500,000 per
occurrence for bodily injury, personal injury and property damage.
3. Comprehensive Auto Liability Insurance with minimum limits of $300,000 combined
single limit per occurrence.
4. Professional Liability Insurance which will respond to damages resulting from any claim
arising out of the performance of professional services or any error or omission of the AUDITOR
arising out of work governed by this agreement. Such insurance shall have the following
minimum amounts of liability: $250,000 per Occurrence/$500,000 Aggregate.
The policies shall provide no less than 30 days notice of cancellation, non-renewal or reduction of
coverage.
At all times during the term of this agreement and for one year after acceptance of the project,
AUDITOR shall maintain on file with the COUNTY a certificate of insurance showing that the
aforesaid insurance coverages are in effect.
21. FORCE MAJEURE.
The AUDITOR shall not be liable for any failure or delays resulting from circumstances or
causes beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, acts or omissions due to fire
or other casualty, natural disasters, war or other violence, or any law, order or requirement of any
governmental agency or authority.
22. NOTICE.
Any written notice to be given to either party under this agreement or related hereto shall be
addressed and delivered as follows:
For AUDITOR:
Ron Conrad, Partner
Cherry, Bekaert & Holland, L.L.P.
800 N. Magnolia Avenue, Ste. 1300
Orlando, FI. 32803
For COUNTY:
Danny L. Kolhage, Clerk
500 Whitehead Street, Ste. 101
Key West, FL 33040
and
County Attorney
P.O. Box 1026
Key West, FL 33041
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this agreement to be executed
the day and year first above written.
(SEAL)
ATTEST: DANNY L. KOLHAGE, CLERK
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By:
By:
Mayor/Chairman
Deputy Clerk
WITNESSES:
AUDITOR: CHERRY, BEKAERT &
HOLLAND, L.L.P.
By:
Partner
MONROE COUNTY ATTORN
PROVED AS TO E
ATTACHMENT A
LIMITATIONS OF THE AUDITING PROCESS
The annual audit of the COUNTY will include procedures designed to obtain reasonable,
rather than absolute, assurance of detecting misstatements due to errors or fraud that are
material to the basic fmancial statements. There are, however, inherent limitations in the
auditing process. For example, audits are based on the concept of selective testing of the
data being examined and are, therefore, subject to the limitation that material
misstatements due to errors or fraud, if they exist, may not be detected. Also, an audit is
not designed to detect error or fraud that is immaterial to the basic financial statements.
As required by the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 and OMB Circular A-B3 and
the Florida Single Audit Act, the COUNTY'S annual audit will include tests of
transactions related to major federal and state award programs for compliance with
applicable laws and regulations and the provisions of contracts and grant agreements.
Because an audit is designed to provide reasonable, but not absolute assurance and
because AUDITOR will not perform a detailed examination of all transactions, there is a
risk that material errors, fraud, other illegal acts, or noncompliance may exist and not be
detected by AUDITOR. In addition, an audit is not designed to detect immaterial errors,
fraud, or other illegal acts or illegal acts that do not have a direct effect on the basic
financial statements or to major programs. It should be recognized that an audit generally
provides no assurance that illegal acts will be detected, and only reasonable assurance
that illegal acts having a direct and material effect on the determination of financial
statement amounts will be detected. However, AUDITOR will inform COUNTY of
material errors and fraud, or illegal acts that come to AUDITOR'S attention during the
course of the audit. AUDITOR will include such matters in the reports as required for a
federal and state Single Audit.
If, for any reason, AUDITOR is unable to complete the audit, or is unable to form or has
not formed an opinion on the basic financial statements, AUDITOR may decline to
express an opinion or decline to issue a report as a result of the engagement.
RESPONSIBILITIES AS TO INTERNAL CONTROLS
As a part of the annual audit, AUDITOR will consider the COUNTY'S internal control
structure, as required by auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of
America and Governmental Auditing Standards, sufficient to plan the audit and to
determine the nature, timing, and extent of auditing procedures necessary for expressing
an opinion concerning the basic financial statements. COUNTY recognizes that the basic
financial statements and the establishment and maintenance of an effective internal
control over financial reporting are the responsibility of management. COUNTY also
recognizes that management is responsible for identifying and ensuring that the
COUNTY complies with the laws and regulations applicable to its activities. Appropriate
supervisory review procedures are necessary to provide reasonable assurance that
adopted policies and prescribed procedures are adhered to and to identify errors, fraud, or
illegal acts. An audit is not designed to provide assurance on internal control. As part of
AUDITOR'S consideration of the COUNTY'S internal control structure, however,
AUDITOR will inform COUNTY of reportable conditions and other matters that come to
AUDITOR'S attention and that represent significant deficiencies in the design or
operation of the internal control structure, ifany, as required by OMB Circular A-B3.
COUNTY management is also responsible for the design and implementation of
programs and controls to prevent and detect fraud, and for informing AUDITOR about all
known or suspected fraud affecting the COUNTY involving (a) management, (b)
employees who have significant roles in internal control, and (c) others where the fraud
could have a material effect on the financial statements. COUNTY management is also
responsible for informing us of knowledge of any allegations of fraud or suspected fraud
affecting the COUNTY received in communications from employees, former employees,
regulators, or others.
As required by OMB Circular A-B3, AUDITOR will perform tests of controls to
evaluate the effectiveness of the design and operation of controls that we consider
relevant to preventing or detecting material noncompliance with compliance
requirements, applicable to each major federal and state award program. However, such
tests will be less in scope than would be necessary to render an opinion on those controls
and, accordingly, no opinion will be expressed in the report on internal control issued
pursuant to OMB Circular A-B3.
RESPONSIBILITIES AS TO COMPLIANCE
As part of obtaining reasonable assurance about whether the basic financial statements
are free of material misstatement, we will perform tests of the COUNTY'S compliance
with applicable laws and regulations and the provisions of contracts and agreements,
including grant agreements. However, the objective of those procedures will not be to
provide an opinion on overall compliance and AUDITOR will not express such an
opinion in the report on compliance issued pursuant to Government Auditing Standards.
OMB Circular A-B3 and the Florida Single Audit Act require that AUDITOR also plan
and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the auditee has
complied with applicable laws and regulations and the provisions of contracts and grant
agreements applicable to major programs. Audit procedures will consist of the
applicable procedures described in the OMB Circular A-B3 Compliance Supplement and
the Governor's State Projects Compliance Supplement for the types of compliance
requirements that could have a direct and material effect on each of the COUNTY'S
major programs. The purpose of those procedures will be to express an opinion on the
COUNTY'S compliance with requirements applicable to major programs in our report on
compliance issued pursuant to OMB Circular A-133 and the Florida Single Audit Act.
REPRESENTATION FROM MANAGEMENT
COUNTY management is responsible for the fair presentation of the basic financial
statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States of America, for making all financial records and related information available to
us, and for identifying and ensuring that the entity complies with the laws and regulations
applicable to its activities. COUNTY management is also responsible for adjusting the
financial statements to correct material misstatements. Additionally, as required by OMB
Circular A-I33, it is management's responsibility to follow up and take corrective action
on prior audit findings and to prepare a summary schedule of prior audit findings and a
corrective action plan. The summary schedule of prior audit fmdings and the corrective
action plan should be made available to us during the course of our engagement.
COUNTY management, at the conclusion of the engagement, will provide to AUDITOR
a representation letter that, among other things, addresses these matters and confirms
certain representations made during the audit, including, to the best of management's
knowledge and belief, the absence of fraud involving management or those employees
who have significant roles in the entity's internal control, or others where it could have a
material effect on the basic financial statements. The representation letter will also affirm
to AUDITOR that management believes that the effects of any uncorrected misstatements
aggregated pertaining to the current year financial statements are immaterial, both
individually and in the aggregate, to the financial statements taken as a whole.